A brighter, whiter smile is what half of America is searching for. Some have found it, some have not. The key is not in these high dollar teeth whitening treatments that you can buy at the store; the key is in how you take care of your teeth by what you eat, drink, and if you properly clean them. Below are some tips on what to avoid and what to take up when trying to whiten your teeth.
Eating a diet with plenty of whole and raw foods is great for your teeth. Vegetables are great for helping clean your teeth. They also do not contain harsh processed ingredients that may stick to your teeth and cause unwanted tooth decay and discolorations.
You may not be able to brush after every meal, however, you can rinse your mouth after meals. Take a minute or two after eating or drinking beverages that can stain and thoroughly rinse your mouth. This will help remove loose particles and stain causing residues that may be left behind from your meals.
Rinse your mouth out after drinking coffee or tea. They are both well known for staining teeth. For better results, try to eliminate it from your diet altogether. The same goes for soda and wine; they can stain your teeth just as much, if not more than coffee and tea.
As you age, teeth will naturally yellow so it is important to have preventative care and whitening done. Maintain proper dental visits and cleanings as well as your regular brushing habits. Minimize sodas, teas, coffees and avoid excesses of sticky foods. These things will prolong the natural white color of your teeth.
You are going to damage your teeth in a way that cannot be repaired if you over treat your teeth with teeth whitening gels or pastes. Only use them as they are directed on the label of the brand that you are using. You will avoid doing damage to your teeth when trying to get them white.
Water can help to keep your teeth white. Water rinses your mouth out and stops other foods from staining your teeth. It is good to get used to drinking water all day, and especially during and at the end of a meal.
Visit your dentist twice a year. You should visit your dentist for a regular cleaning and checkup. Most people don’t like going to the dentist but it’s important to have healthy teeth and will help with keeping your teeth white. Keep your appointments with your dentist and visit them regularly.
A natural way to help whiten your teeth is to eat fruits and vegetables that are fibrous in texture. These types of foods act as a natural cleanser, scrubbing the teeth while you are eating them. Some great choices for fibrous fruits and vegetables are apples, cucumber, carrots and broccoli.
If you are using a peroxide treatment to keep up your beautiful smile, then you need to make sure that you do not over do it. These treatments should be applied once every 6 to 8 months. Any more than this can cause damage to your gums and your teeth.
To make your teeth look whiter via makeup, wear red lipstick! Deep reds and other blue based colors create a visual illusion of whiter teeth. By the same token, you should avoid any warmer colors like yellows or browns. The colors will create an effect that highlights the yellowest parts of your teeth.
If you smoke, stop. A professional whitening procedure costs a significant amount of money. If you have such a procedure done and then light up a cigarette, you have thrown that money away. The gains you make will be reduced by your smoking, and once you end your treatment the results will quickly disappear.
Use different lip color to improve the appearance of your smile. Something glossy usually works well to brighten up your teeth, or you can give lip makeup with a slightly blue base a try. Hues like berry shades and blue-tinted reds are very effective at making your teeth seem whiter. Stay away from lipsticks or lip color that has a matte, or un-shiny, finish, as these make teeth look dingy.
Apply a sunless tanner to make your teeth appear whiter. The color you will get from applying a tanner provides a contrast to your teeth that will make them gleam whiter than when you are paler. As an added benefit, it will also make your eyes stand out even more.
Strange, but true, wood ash will help whiten your teeth. Wood ash contains a compound that will bleach your teeth called potassium hydroxide. The tiny crystals help to scrape off plague in hard to reach places and will scrub your teeth clean. To use it you can mix it with toothpaste or put it directly on your toothbrush.
There are a few herbs that have teeth-whitening properties. These include: holy basil, margosa, banyon roots and babul. You can rub these herbs directly on your front teeth to whiten them, or you can mix them with a paste of baking soda and water or mashed-up strawberries and then apply to your teeth.
As previously stated, white teeth are in high demand by most of America. There are costly ways to go about whitening your teeth, then there are smart ways. Of course, the smart ways are best. The costly ways may be easier, but could hurt your teeth in the long run, not to mention your bank account. If you follow the aforementioned teeth-whitening tips, then you should be well on your way to achieving those beautiful pearly whites you have always dreamed of.