Maintaining a healthy white smile is a daily commitment. So if you’re looking to diminish stains and whiten your teeth, our helpful team of Lilac dental family cosmetic dentists is here to help. We want to give you the best tips for keeping your teeth white so you can tackle the day with a bright, confident smile!
What Causes Teeth to Yellow or Stain?
Teeth will naturally darken or turn yellow with age as the outer enamel layer of your tooth wears away. However, in addition to natural discoloring, a variety of factors may contribute to teeth turning yellow. These factors include stains from food, drinks, tobacco use, medications, or overall poor dental hygiene. In addition, if an individual has experienced trauma or oral health events, this may cause discoloration and darkening.
How To Keep Teeth White At Home
Brush Your Teeth At Least Twice a Day
So how can you keep your teeth white? Well, it starts with proper home care. The most important steps that contribute to healthy white teeth are daily brushing, flossing, and mouthwash. This daily routine is a great way to keep superficial staining from occurring or even help remove the stains after they have occurred.
Avoid These Foods & Drinks
Avoiding particular food or beverages can be helpful as well. Unfortunately, some of our favorite drinks can cause more harm to our teeth than good. Our Lilac dentists recommend avoiding these types of foods and drinks if you want to avoid staining your teeth:
- Coffee & Tea
- Red wine & Soda
- Dark berries & Energy drinks
- Tomato-based sauces & Soy sauce
- Balsamic vinegar, Beets, & Curry
- Food Coloring & Colored Candy
Use a Straw
Try drinking with a straw instead and rinsing with water after consuming anything that might stain your teeth.
Avoid Smoking
Cigarettes and other forms of tobacco and nicotine are notorious for turning your teeth yellow. A study by The National Library of Medicine actually found that smokers reported a higher level of moderate and severe discoloration compared to non-smokers.
Eat and Drink More of These
On the other hand, consuming certain foods and drinks can help brighten your smile including:
- Strawberries, Apples, Celery
- Broccoli, Carrots, Oranges
- Leafy greens, Pineapples
- Seeds, Nuts, Milk & Water
- Sugar-free gum
Try Over-The-Counter Whiteners & Toothpastes
Using over-the-counter whitening agents may help whiten your teeth. Most teeth whitening strips can be found at your local pharmacy. Another helpful tactic is to use an at-home whitening toothpaste. However, be mindful of certain whitening toothpastes, as some are often more abrasive and can lead to the wearing of tooth enamel. Ask your dentist if you have any concerns about which toothpaste to use.
How Your Dentist Can Help
Regular Teeth Cleaning Appointments
While all of these tips will help keep your teeth whiter, maintaining regular 6-month dental cleanings is one of the best ways to eliminate yellowing and staining. Your dental hygienist can help remove developing stains between the teeth and other visible, but hard-to-reach areas.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening may be the next step if you’ve tried at-home remedies and are still seeking solutions. Over-the-counter treatments work, but they can be less concentrated and hard to maintain.
Using professional teeth cleaning, your dentists will ensure the whitening tray is custom-made to fit your teeth, making it easier to apply evenly over your teeth and less likely to pool up on your gum tissue. In addition, the professional custom whitening tray uses a higher concentration of the whitening agent for faster results.
Schedule an Appointment with Your Lilac Dental Cosmetic Dentists!
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