Who doesn’t love a blindingly white Hollywood smile? Getting and maintaining the whitest smile is just a question of care and patience. What can you do to get your best smile going?
What causes teeth to become discoloured?
Despite our best efforts, teeth will get stained and change colour over time, losing their white brilliance- this is inevitable, even if your teeth are otherwise completely healthy, and you take good care of them. Aside from time, there are other factors that can also contribute to greyish or yellowish teeth, factors like smoking, drinking and improper oral care. Aside from these common factors, certain foods and drinks, and even some medications like antibiotics can cause your teeth to discolour. But there is no need to be upset, as this condition can be reversed.
What you can do to prevent the discolouration of your teeth
With proper care, the discolouration of the teeth can be stopped and even reversed. The first step, as is the case with any kind of prevention, is a proper and rigorous at home oral care routine that you keep regularly. Brush your teeth at least twice a day, and for at least two minutes at a time, and do not forget to clean your gums and the alveolus around the teeth as well. It is also important to choose the best tooth cleaning apparatus and materials as well. You should change toothbrushes or the head of your electric toothbrush once every 2 or 3 months.
The other thing you can do to have less staining of your teeth is to eat less foods that stain your teeth. Try and cut down on red wine, chocolate, coffee and tea, sweets and soft drinks. Soft drinks like coke or ginger ale are very bad for your teeth. Many patients do not know, but even certain healthy foods can contribute to the discolouration of your teeth, as red berries, sugar free fruit juices and tea of all sorts can greatly contribute to staining your enamel.
Tooth whitening methods
Many tooth whitening methods exist, which have been proven to not be harmful to the teeth. Starting with the super effective chairside whitening that you can get from your dentist to the at home whitening kits to DIY remedies and natural tooth whitening solutions, the options are simply staggering. Be sure to ask your dentist about a method you have found, and if this one is the best option for you. No two people are the same, and our oral cavities differ just as much, so not all methods may have the same effect on all patients. If you have and dental crowns or bridgework, tooth fillings or inlays, you absolutely must consult with your dentist before getting any tooth whitening treatments, as these can react differently than your natural teeth to certain kinds of tooth whitening treatments.
Natural at home tooth whitening remedies
There are countless DIY practices that are meant to whiten your teeth. These do not produce effective results, and if done tooth frequently or too vigorously, can even harm your teeth. But by doing some of these practices, you will be keeping your teeth white, as stains that are newly formed will be removed by them.
Tooth whitening using sodium bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate is effective at removing staining, and just because of friction. Aside from physically rubbing the staining materials and plaque and tartar off of the tooth enamel, it also breaks up stains chemically: it oxidises the staining layers, and because its’ slightly basic pH, it creates a hostile environment for bacteria that also cause discolouration. When brushing your teeth, put a little bit of sodium bicarbonate on your toothpaste, and after brushing, leave it on your tooth surfaces for a few minutes.
Tooth whitening with the power of apples
As the old saying goes an apple a day keeps the doctor away. Although this is greatly exaggerated, apple fibres and the acids in apples do help with removing stains from the tooth enamel. You can also use a bit of apple vinegar mixed with warm water as a rinse and gargle with it.
Tooth whitening with celery
Nibbling on a bit of celery after a meal is a very effective and all natural method to whiten and clean the teeth. Celery is also very healthy, so there is no reason not to!
Tooth whitening with orange peels
Peel an orange, and then take the inner, white side of it, and gently rub your teeth with it. The fibres in the orange will contribute to oral health, and the slightly acidic peel will remove stains from the tooth enamel.
Tooth whitening with strawberries
Although contrary to common sense, you can use strawberries to remove stains from your teeth. Crush a strawberry up and mix it with sodium bicarbonate and a bit of baking powder, then gently rub your teeth with it, leaving the mixture on for a few minutes.
Tooth whitening with lemons
Using warm water mixed with freshly squeezed lemons as a mouthwash is also an effective tooth whitening method. But make sure you do not go overboard, as citric acid is pretty harsh, and can harm your tooth enamel if used too often.
