Top 10 Teeth Whitening Tips for a More Confident Smile
Having whiter teeth is something we all dream of, but very few do anything about. If you’re looking for a whiter, more confident smile, check out these top ten teeth whitening tips.
We all want whiter teeth. White teeth are attractive, they’re eye-catching, and they can even help you get a new job. But if you’re like most people, you have no idea how to actually make your teeth whiter.
Luckily, teeth whitening isn’t as difficult as you think. It’s also easy to find a dentist who specializes in whitening by searching for a Lexington teeth whitening dentist or asking neighbors for recommendations. In this article, we’ll talk about eight teeth whitening tips you can start using today.
Read on and start your journey toward a whiter smile.
But first…
What Exactly Gives Your Teeth Their Color?
Before we talk about teeth whitening tips, it’s important to understand what makes teeth yellow (or even brown) in the first place.
Contrary to popular belief, there’s more to yellow teeth than stains. Stains do make a big difference, but you also need to consider dentin and enamel.
Dentin is a brownish material that makes up the interior of your teeth; enamel is the translucent white material that makes up the outside of your teeth. If you have a thick enamel layer, your teeth will look whiter. If you have a thin enamel layer, however, the dentin will be more visible and your teeth will look yellow.
Teeth whitening is about both avoiding stains and maintaining a healthy, thick enamel layer. It takes patience and diligence, but it’s worth it. There are a whole lot of teeth whitening benefits, after all.
With that in mind, let’s dive into our list.
Avoid Foods and Drinks That Cause Stains
This is both the most obvious and the most difficult of our teeth whitening tips. It’s difficult because the list of teeth-staining foods and drinks includes such staples as coffee, wine, and sodas. And we know how tough those are to give up.
But if you really want to make sure your teeth stay white, cutting these items out of your diet is one of the best things you can do.
We know that won’t be easy. If you can’t do it, there are some things you can do to mitigate the damage.
Drink Through a Straw
A drink can’t stain your teeth if it never touches them. A straw is a great way to get those delicious, teeth-staining beverages from your glass into your stomach as efficiently as possible.
We know you’re not going to want to drink wine or coffee out of a straw, but you have to make some sacrifices if you want white teeth.
Brush Your Teeth After You Eat or Drink
Alright, so you weren’t willing to stop drinking wine, and you weren’t even willing to drink it through a straw. The least you can do is brush your teeth when you’re done.
This tip goes for every food, not just the teeth stainers we mentioned above. Maintaining healthy, white enamel is all about keeping your mouth clean.
And now that you’re brushing more, make sure you replace your toothbrush accordingly. As soon as the bristles start to wilt, it’s time to get a new one.
Brush Your Tongue and Floss
Again, teeth-whitening is all about keeping your mouth clean. Your mouth is full of nasty bacteria that would love to spend a night wearing down your enamel. Your job is to keep them under control.
In addition to your normal brushing routine, make sure that you’re also flossing. Bacteria love hiding between your teeth.
They also love colonizing the grooves of your tongue. Brush your tongue regularly and brush it well.
Rinse Your Mouth Out Immediately After You Eat Acidic Foods
Acidic foods, such as citrus fruits, really do a number on your enamel layer. A damaged enamel layer stains easier and shows more of your underlying dentin.
We’re not going to tell you to stop eating citrus fruits, but when you do eat them, rinse your mouth out with water immediately afterward. You don’t want to leave acid sitting on your teeth for longer than you need to.
Rinse Your Mouth Out With Apple Cider Vinegar
Yes, we just said to be careful with acidic foods, but it turns out that apple cider vinegar is a great natural teeth-whitener. It contains compounds like potassium, magnesium, and probiotics which remove stains and promote the growth of healthy bacteria.
Once a day, take a big swig, swish it around for a minute, and spit it out. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes.
Use Strawberries to Whiten Your Teeth
Some people swear that crushed up strawberries are great for teeth whitening. Take a bunch of strawberries, mash them up with a fork, and rub them all over your teeth.
This tip isn’t backed up by as much science as the other ones on this list, but it’s worth a try if you have some extra strawberries lying around.
Add Baking Soda to Your Cleaning Regimen
Baking soda is great for cleaning and whitening teeth. Just sprinkle a little bit on your toothbrush when you brush them. Not only will it whiten your teeth, but it will also clean them.
You can take it a step further and add a little bit of hydrogen peroxide to the baking soda to create a powerful cleaning paste. Use this paste as if it were ordinary toothpaste to remove extra plaque from your teeth.
Use Your New Teeth Whitening Tips
The most important thing to remember is that these teeth whitening tips won’t work if you don’t use them. We know that sounds obvious, but we had to remind you.
Even when you get tired of drinking through a straw or brushing after every meal, keep going. Your smile is worth it.
If you found this article helpful, check out the rest of the great tips on our blog.
