Tips to Follow to Keep Your Teeth White
- Feb 20 2024
A stunning smile can help you live more confidently and face interactions in both social and professional settings more effectively. For many, the shade of their smile is the biggest concern. Luckily, there are plenty of tips you can follow to keep your teeth white.
Following a Proper Oral Hygiene Routine
Brushing and flossing are essential to maintaining good oral health and protecting against tooth decay, gum disease, and more.
They also directly impact the shade of your smile by preventing plaque and tartar from marring it. Bacteria can eventually form these deposits, which have a yellowish off-white color and also absorb stains from food and drink more readily.
Brushing and flossing help regulate bacteria levels and remove these deposits before they can set in. That’s why you should brush twice each day, being sure to brush for at least two minutes each time. Flossing at least once is also essential to prevent deposits from growing in nooks and crannies from which they can grow and expand.
Avoiding Food and Drink That Cause Stains
Many different types of food and drink can cause stains. It might not be realistic to cut them out entirely, but focusing on a few that you might be getting too much of can help in the long run.
For many, coffee and tea are among the top culprits. These drinks can stain your teeth, are widely consumed, and are often sipped over long periods of time. Other drinks are also potential stain risks, often due to increased acidity. Red wine, cola, and even dark fruit juices can cause stains.
In terms of meals, many tomato-based sauces are known to cause stains. Soy sauce and balsamic vinegar are also items to watch out for.
Keeping Up With Routine Dental Visits
Routine dental visits let your dentist identify potential issues as early as possible to allow for effective and minimally invasive treatment. The teeth cleaning portion of the visit also removes plaque and tartar. This protects against tooth decay and gum disease and also brightens your smile by removing these discolored deposits.
Tartar is physically too hard for brushing to handle. However, your dentist’s specialized tools can remove it. Your dentist is also sure to reach nooks and crannies you might have overlooked. Brushing and flossing can’t always get everything, so it’s vital to keep up with routine appointments every six months or based on your dentist’s instructions.
Professional Teeth Whitening
If you’re looking for more immediate results or to really make your smile stand out, you might consider professional teeth whitening treatment. Both in-office and take-home professional whitening deliver better results than over-the-counter solutions like whitening toothpaste or whitening strips.
In-office treatment involves the application of clinical strength whitening gel, which is activated using laser light. This powerful method delivers noticeable results in just one brief visit. You can also get custom trays and whitening gel from your dentist for at-home treatment.
Solutions for Intrinsic Staining
These tips aren’t necessarily the right solution for every kind of stain. Extrinsic stains can be handled by professional whitening treatment because they affect the outer layers of the tooth. Intrinsic stains, on the other hand, affect deeper layers but are still visible through the translucent enamel.
While whitening gel can’t deal with these stains, there are still solutions. Porcelain veneers can solve a wide range of smile defects, including intrinsic staining. A custom veneer covers the face of the affected tooth, providing a flawless yet natural appearance.
Find the Right Solution for Your Smile
Every smile is unique, so there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to a beautiful smile. Specific whitening treatments may or may not be the best approach for your smile.
Forest Hills Dentistry is your home for cosmetic dentistry treatments of all kinds in Forest Hills. Let’s talk about your smile and see which treatment options are right for you.
Categories: Cosmetic Dentistry