Do you wish for bright, white teeth without the price or sensitivity of whitening strips or treatments? Then you will be glad to know that there are simple little changes you can make to your daily routine that will get you on the path to whiter teeth.
The first step to maintaining those pearly whites is prevention.
● Maintain a white teeth diet: avoid dark colored food and drinks such as red wine, coffee, berries, and dark sodas. If you eat or drink anything dark, be sure to rinse your mouth with water or brush teeth immediately after.
● Finish the meal with “cleansing” foods. Chewing crunchy foods such as apples, carrots, and celery helps wash away debris on teeth. Eat these foods last to help clean your teeth if you don’t have the time or equipment to brush.
● Floss, floss, floss. Flossing every day, multiple times a day is also important. Leave floss at work, in your car, and at home so you can access floss no matter where you are. Flossing removes plaque at the gum line, helping to keep teeth healthy and bright.
● Change your toothbrush every 3 months. If you are brushing with an old toothbrush, you are transferring bacteria from the brush to your mouth. In order to prevent discoloration from bacteria, replace your toothbrush or the head of your electric toothbrush often.
● Invest in an electric toothbrush: Electric toothbrushes are found to remove more plaque and reduce gum problems more than a standard toothbrush. Some electric toothbrushes also have a timer ensuring you brush for two minutes each session.
● Use a whitening toothpaste. While toothpaste can’t actually whiten teeth, it can remove stains before they set in. Whitening toothpaste or those with baking soda added are best at fighting stains and keeping teeth white.
If you are hoping to remove deep, set-in stains and want immediate results, you may need to look to professional whitening at your dentist’s office. Here at The Dental Care Center we can create custom whitening trays for your teeth or do a whitening treatment in the office. The results are safe and effective, and are an investment you can see!
No matter how you’re whitening your teeth, always remember to keep up good oral hygiene habits and schedule regular visits to your dentist. Healthy teeth are white teeth!