There are many benefits to smiling, including increased happiness and attractiveness. Why not make your smile the best it can be? Improving your smile can have dramatic effects on changing your appearance, boosting your self-confidence, and attracting others. A great way to improve your smile is whitening your teeth. The next time you’re looking in the mirror before work or a date, take a moment and check out your smile. Is it as healthy and white as you want it to be? If not, here are some steps to take to make those pearly whites shine!
1. Brush and Floss Daily
The best way to make sure you’re removing stains from your teeth is to brush them after every meal for 2-3 minutes. Try an electronic toothbrush, as they are proven to more effectively remove plaque and often time come with timers to let you know how long you’ve been brushing. Also, floss! Flossing is the best way to remove plaque from between the teeth that you’re toothbrush can’t reach, thus eliminating any stain potential.
2. Whitening Toothpaste
There are many types of toothpaste out there that offer whitening benefits. If your stains are minor, you may have good results by simply using whitening toothpaste, which contains mild abrasives that scrub away stains while you brush. Whitening toothpastes that are awarded the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance have special chemical or polishing agents added that provide extra stain removal, but do not change the color of your teeth.
3. Do-It-Yourself Teeth Whitening Products
The active ingredient in most whitening kits is carbamide peroxide, which acts as a bleach to remove surface stains from teeth. While these kits can produce a noticeably whiter smile, they tend to take about two or three weeks to get the job done. Teeth can become sensitive from these and gums can become irritated. If side effects are a concern to you, the safest choice is to have a dental professional whiten your teeth.
4. Professional Whitening
If you would like faster or more dramatic results, a professional whitening session at the dentist’s office is in order. Your dentist will use a higher concentration of peroxide for a “Hollywood Smile” in no time!
5. Quit Smoking
Smoking is a major cause of yellow stains on the teeth. To avoid this, quit smoking altogether. Your health (and your teeth!) will thank you.
6. Carefully Choose Your Beverages
Beverages like soft drinks, fruit juices, and sports drinks contain high amounts of harmful acids that erode the protective enamel on your teeth, causing serious, sometimes irreversible, damage. Coffee and tea also stain your teeth. Try drinking through a straw and limiting or eliminating these beverages from your diet altogether.
7. Go to the Dentist Regularly
Have your teeth cleaned professionally by a dentist every 6 months. A professional clean is far more through than just brushing at home and will keep plaque and tartar, which cause stains, at bay far more effectively than home cleaning.
8. Drink More Water
Saliva is your body's natural protection for hard and soft oral tissue. So keep your mouth hydrated by drinking plenty of water -- it not only helps to boost your metabolism and quench your thirst, it keeps your mouth moist so your saliva can do its job!
9. Chew Sugar Free Gum
Chewing gum after a meal also gets your saliva glands working and can wipe away any debris from your meal. If you can’t brush right after a meal, at least chew some sugar free gum.
10. Make Your Dentist Your New Best Friend
Exciting advancements in dental technology are bringing more and more people to the dental office in search of a whiter smile. During your next appointment, your dentist can tell you all about the latest in whitening care!
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