If your teeth aren’t perfectly white, you might feel a bit of embarrassment over the matter when you smile or you could even feel downright unattractive. Everyone is born with white teeth yet somehow over the years, the color can darken significantly for a number of reasons. If you’re unhappy with the color of your teeth, fear not. There are a few ways you can get back to the beautiful white teeth you had in your youth. Following these teeth whitening tips should get you back on track in no time.
First, you should take a look at what has caused your teeth to discolor. Remember that it is likely to happen again so if you’re going to invest time or money in getting your teeth whitened, you should have a good plan in place to avoid having the discoloration problem return. For many people, smoking is the culprit. Smoking can turn teeth yellow fairly quickly and this can stick with you even decades after quitting smoking. Drinking a lot of dark colored beverages such as red wine and coffee can also have a cumulative effect on teeth and lead to serious discoloration. If you’re going to get your teeth whitened, do your best to avoid contact with all of these if you want them to stay that way.
Some people use a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda for home tooth whitening, but dentists caution against overuse of this method as it can strip the enamel from your teeth. Home tooth whitening strips are also popular choices. These strips contain chemicals that whiten the teeth and you simply place them over top of your teeth at home and leave them there for a designated amount of time (usually twenty minutes to a half hour). This process might need to be repeated several times until the desired level of whiteness is achieved.
Tooth whitening toothpaste is another great option if you’re patient and don’t have your heart set on immediate results. This method won’t help you much if you’re trying to get whiter teeth for a special occasion this week, but it’s excellent as a long term plan. It’s so easy to institute because everyone brushes their teeth every day (and if not, they should!). It only requires switching your toothpaste to a whitening variety and over time the effect will be a noticeable lightening of your teeth.
Good dental hygiene also plays a role in the color of your teeth. Although it’s not terribly fun, you should make a point of visiting you dentist regularly for professional cleanings. You also need to brush and floss every day because remnants of food stuck between your teeth can cause discoloration or even corrosion.
What are Your Views on This? Leave a Comment