Everyone wants whiter teeth and there are various treatments you can undergo in order to clear up any discolouring and return them to their former glory. Discolouration is a natural process that happens as we get older, but fortunately there are steps you can take to help keep your teeth naturally white for longer.
Avoid Foods That Stain
Certain foods can leave a lasting impression on your teeth so it is bet to cut down on them. Red Wine, black coffee, soy sauce, blueberries, beetroot and curry can all have this effect if eaten often so try to keep it to a minimum.
Don’t Smoke
Smoking is bad for you in many different ways and your teeth suffer too as a result. While smoke can be an irritant and lead to gum disease, it also discolours your teeth over time. It would be best to give up smoking altogether.
Rinse After Eating
Water is the healthiest drink in the world and should be drunk often anyway but it can also help dislodge any harmful particles stuck in your teeth after meals. When food gets stuck, it can cause all kinds of dental problems so you need to remove it as soon as possible.
Eat Whitening Foods
Some foods can actually help whiten your teeth. Any crunchy vegetables are good as chewing them has an abrasive effect that helps scrub your teeth clean, although it is best not to overdo it as you might damage the enamel. However, some foods even have natural whitening properties, such as strawberries, which contain whitening agents.
Eat More Cheese
Cheese is good for your teeth thanks to all the calcium in it but ending a meal with some can also help encourage the remineralisation of your teeth and make them stronger. Milk and yoghurt are also good.
Use Baking Soda
Baking soda can clean and whiten your teeth if used correctly. Simply mix it with water and a pinch of salt to make a paste and brush your teeth with it for a minute, before rinsing. Be aware that baking soda is abrasive though so try to limit this treatment to twice a week as it may damage the enamel if done too often.
Use Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen Peroxide is an antiseptic and disinfectant, making it the ideal ingredient in mouthwash. If you mix some with an equal amount of water and rinse your mouth out as you would with mouthwash, it can help clean and bleach your teeth. But whatever you do, don’t swallow any.
Chewing Gum
Chewing sugar-free gum after meals helps remove any food stuck between your teeth, encourages saliva production and helps neutralise any harmful acids in your mouth. This in turn helps keep them white.
Brush and Floss
The most obvious step is one that many continue to get wrong or simply neglect. Regular brushing and flossing remains the best way to keep your mouth healthy. When it comes to whitening, it is far easier to prevent staining, rather than removing any existing stains, and this step goes a long way to achieving that, as well as providing all the other benefits of good dental health. There’s even a tutorial on brushing your teeth properly here on the site.
When All Else Fails
Of course, it’s not always going to be as easy as following these steps – sometimes, life just gets in the way. But never fear – you can always give us a call or come in for a chat about how we can clean and whiten your teeth to get them back to their very best.