Discolored teeth are universally despised. Is there a safe way to get a whiter smile? You can find many answers to this question, though not everything you read is accurate. Keep reading for a handful of proven tips and treatments for safely whitening your teeth.
Some whitening strips can cause damage to your gums. Avoid products that require you to leave them on for hours. Although it takes longer to whiten your teeth using the 30 minute strips, it will not make your gums sensitive.
When drinking stain-causing beverages like tea, coffee, soft drinks or dark wines, sip a little water too. If consumed often, these particular drinks contain items that will stain your teeth. Sip some water along with your coffee, tea, soda or red wine to rinse the stain causing liquids off of your teeth. Additionally, consider brushing your teeth immediately after drinking wines, sodas, teas or coffees for maximum stain prevention.
Approximately half of all patients who try some sort of whitening treatment, especially those at home, will experience some level of tooth sensitivity as a result. If this happens to you, try lowering the concentration of the product that you are using, and see if that corrects the problem.
Raw foods, especially fruits and vegetables keep your teeth healthy. Fatty foods increase the chance of cavities and can cause discoloration of your teeth. These foods should be enjoyed only in moderation if you wish to keep a healthy smile. You should also avoid constantly snacking when aiming for a healthy smile.
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.
Use a straw when drinking highly acidic beverages, such as sodas or citrus juices. Using a straw will help divert the acid away from your teeth, into your mouth, which can keep it from causing damage to your teeth. Gray teeth are often caused by thinning tooth enamel, so protecting your tooth enamel will keep your teeth whiter.
Keep a single use toothbrush in your wallet or purse to clean off debris after eating sweet foods. For good oral hygiene, be sure to wash away sugary, starchy debris right away. After you eat the sugary food, take a few moments to brush. As long as you thoroughly scrub your teeth and rinse them well, you do not need to use toothpaste.
Avoid water and toothpaste with fluoride in it. It has been found that it can cause discoloration of the teeth. There are several countries that have banned it from drinking water because it has been connected to disease and symptoms there. If you need to take fluoride, use the capsules.
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.
To make your teeth look their best after a bleaching session, be sure to focus on your gums. Red or irritated gums will distract from your teeth, and may make them look less healthy than they actually are. Try using a gum massager before you have your teeth whitened. It’ll make sure part of your smile looks great.
Stay away from yellow gold jewelry if you want your teeth to look white. The color will make yellow tones in your teeth even more prominent. Instead of gold, go with silvers, diamonds, rhinestones and white gold. These colors will help accentuate the white in your teeth making your smile gleam.
Brush your teeth upon waking up, and then again right before bed. Your saliva dries overnight which builds up plaque and bacteria.
Mouthwash can actually promote the discoloration of your teeth. Since mouthwash contains chemicals including alcohol, it can stain your teeth with brown and yellow stains, because it strips the enamel. Talk to your dentist about whether your teeth can withstand the damage that mouthwash causes.
To whiten teeth without spending a small fortune, try creating your own teeth whitening solution at home. Combine baking salt with salt and then apply the mixture to your teeth, rubbing it onto all tooth surfaces. This solution helps kill plaque-causing bacteria and also the bacteria which can harm tooth enamel.
If you have or are planning on getting Invisalign to enhance your smile, I recommend that you wait until after your treatment to start whitening your teeth. If you do this, you can save hundreds of dollars on the whitening process by using your Invisalign aligners as trays for your whitening gel.
In order to get your teeth as white as possible, you may want to talk to your dentist about Luma-light or Zoom treatments. These treatments have a high concentration of peroxide with light wavelengths, and is so effective, that your teeth could end up 10 shades lighter. It is also a safe procedure.
A great tip that can help you with teeth whitening is to make sure you don’t overuse any whitening products. Though you might have good intentions by using them a lot, overusing these products can actually damage your teeth. Protect your tooth enamel by only using whitening products in moderation.
Quit smoking if you want whiter teeth. Smoking destroys the enamel on your teeth. What is left behind is brown or yellow teeth. Even if you pay for an expensive dental whitening, your smile won’t gleam for long if you smoke. Quit smoking for your health, but also for your appearance. You’ll be happy that you did.
As you know, there are many different opinions about the best way to whiten your teeth. You should have some ideas now about how to get that pearly white smile without damaging your teeth. Apply the tips you have been given, so that you will get the white teeth you have longed for.