Every day, photos of celebrities’ dazzling white smiles are splashed all over social media, TV and newspapers. However, there are plenty of ways for you to feel like a star by achieving a brighter smile. So, follow our advice on how you can help your pearly whites look their best.
Watch what you eat and drink
Tea, coffee, red wine and cola are just some of the well-known culprits which can stain your teeth. Add tomato-based sauces, some dark-coloured fruit juices, berries and curry to the mix and these can all stain or discolour your teeth. Of course, you can try avoiding them but this would be unrealistic.
A helping hand
Instead, we recommend limiting the food and drink mentioned above when you can to help you achieve a whiter smile. Also, drink a glass of water after a meal as this will help to wash away food and drink residue left on your teeth. Once you’ve eaten, why not spend just ten minutes chewing sugar-free gum? Chewing gum actually stimulates saliva production, which helps to protect your teeth by neutralising acids formed during eating. It also creates a cleaning action by lifting food debris from your teeth. Try mint-flavoured gum as the fruity, tangy ones may be acidic and further damage your teeth.
Lifestyle changes
You could try replacing some of the dark-coloured food and drink that you enjoy with lighter alternatives for a brighter smile. For example, choose white wine over red and carrots in your salad instead of beetroot. Carrots contain Vitamin A too, which is vital for strengthening tooth enamel. Try to stop smoking. Apart from this being a contributing factor to gum disease, the tar and nicotine found in a cigarette can darken your teeth and eventually, through years of prolonged use, can even turn them a shade of brown.
Brushing advice
To help you retain a whiter smile, you need to keep an eye on your toothbrush. Make sure you change your manual or the head of your electric model every two or three months. Otherwise, this will transfer bacteria back to your mouth. If you don’t already have an electric toothbrush, consider upgrading. You can even buy models with teeth-whitening settings. Add a good fluoride, whitening toothpaste to your brushing regime and this can help to remove surface stains from your teeth and may strengthen your enamel, too. However, these toothpastes contain very small amounts of whitening so remember results are likely to be minimal.
Add the little extras
Don’t forget to floss after brushing in your quest for a whiter smile. After all, dental floss helps to remove staining between your teeth. Then, why not complete your brushing routine with some mouthwash? However, choose carefully as dark-coloured mouthwashes contain a pigment, which can actually stain your teeth.
Regular check-ups & cleans
Having whiter teeth is attainable so a regular visit to your dentist is a must. After all, a six-monthly check-up is essential and this will also help to prevent any bigger problems from arising such as tooth decay. At Lighthouse Dental Practice, you can also benefit from scale and polish, when your dentist recommends this treatment. They simply scrape away hardened plaque and tartar from the surface of your teeth. The polish will then buff your teeth, making them look cleaner and brighter.
Teeth whitening
If you want to return your teeth to their original natural colour in your quest for a whiter smile, then consider a teeth-whitening treatment. Speak to our team and our trained dentists will then examine your oral health to check whether you are suitable for teeth whitening. Our process is proving so popular because it enables you to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home. The full results can usually be seen in around three weeks, too. We take an impression of your teeth to produce your bespoke whitening tray. This way, the fit will feel more comfortable and it’s safer too. You simply follow our instructions and add the correct amount of whitening gel to the tray. The trays are easy to use and you only need to wear them for a just a few hours every day for the duration of the treatment.
Avoid DIY whitening kits
Over-the-counter kits should be avoided where possible because they contain very few whitening ingredients when compared to dentist treatments. Therefore, the results you will achieve could be insignificant as these will not have any real effect on tooth colour. But what’s worse, these can be very acidic, which can harm your teeth and, if not used correctly, could cause mouth ulcers.
Teeth bleaching
This is a fantastic option if you’re looking for teeth, which will whiten beyond their natural colour. It works in a similar way to teeth whitening, however, the results will be a lot brighter and, of course, whiter! This is because the products actually bleach the teeth with reliable bleaching products. As a result, teeth become whiter than they were originally.
Veneers
Porcelain dental veneers may be just what you’re looking for if you want to achieve a perfect, whiter smile. This procedure is probably best if your teeth are heavily stained as this involves replacing the front surface enamel. However, your dentist can advise you whether this would be your best course of action.
After all, this treatment is more invasive than whitening or bleaching and it includes a local anaesthetic to minimise discomfort.
Call our practice now on 01473 257379 for more information on how to achieve a whiter smile.
We are here to help you.
If you would like to speak to a member of our friendly team about any of the issues in this article please visit our contact page or call us on 01473 257379.