10 Tips for Whiter Teeth

Discolored teeth can make you look unhealthy or prematurely aged. Here are 10 good tips for keeping your teeth looking whiter and healthier.

1: Fake It with a Tan or Lipstick

If you can’t get your teeth white, you can always try making them look whiter. Certain shades of lipstick as well as a tan can make your teeth look whiter by comparison.

2: Quit Smoking

Cigarette smoke discolors your front teeth unevenly and quickly. These stains are hard to conceal, and though they respond to teeth whitening, they come back in a short time. Worse, smoking threatens your oral health, increasing the risk of gum disease and tooth loss. It even makes it up to 10 times more likely that dental implants will fail.

3: Stop Binge Drinking

Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol daily can improve your overall health, but drinking too much can stain your teeth. Red wine and dark beer are obvious culprits for tooth staining, but even white wine and pale beer are acidic and can stain teeth, effects that worsen over long drinking sessions that can dehydrate you and thus reduce saliva production. Mixed drinks also contain staining compounds or highly acidic ingredients. And if you make yourself sick, stomach acid is very bad for your teeth.

4: Use a Straw

When drinking acidic or staining beverages, you can drink them through a straw to reduce the contact they have with your teeth.

5: Rinse with Water

Now, you’re not going to be drinking your hot coffee with a straw, but you can reduce the amount of staining if you rinse your mouth with water after finishing a cup of joe. This is also a good way to follow up a soda or any meal. It’s better than brushing right after eating, which can erode softened enamel. For maximum effectiveness, you can rinse right away, wait half an hour, then brush.

6: Finish Meals with Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables

Crunchy fruits and vegetables can remove food particles clinging to your teeth. They can also help you produce more saliva, which helps neutralize acids from bacteria feeding on food.

7: Or Finish with Dairy

Dairy can also help neutralize acid in your mouth. Milk is a natural buffer solution that helps keep the pH at a level where enamel won’t be damaged. Cheese and yogurt are even better. The bacteria cultures in them have been shown to reduce the activity of harmful bacteria in your mouth, resulting in reduced risk of cavities or gum disease.

8: Visit Your Dentist Regularly

In addition to your regular daily oral hygiene, regular visits to your dentist can help keep your teeth clean. Your dentist will also give them a gentle but polish that can help them look whiter.

9: Skip OTC Whiteners

Over-the-counter whitening products can be somewhat effective at whitening your teeth, but in general they don’t do a good job. Ill-fitting trays and strips that give incomplete coverage tend to whiten only part of your teeth, leaving yellowish stains at the margins. They also don’t do a good job of keeping the whiteners off your gums, which can lead to irritation and bleeding.

10: Get Professional Whitening

If you are still unhappy with the color of your teeth, professional teeth whitening can help. In-office whitening is good for a start, but professional-strength take-home treatments give the best long-term results.

If you want to whiten your teeth in Denver, please contact Ascent Dental in Cherry Creek.