What do you notice about other people first? Chances are their smile is one of them, and it’s also one of the things people find attractive. Clean white teeth and fresh breath. You may not even realise you value it so highly. Everyone loves a gorgeous smile.
Having good teeth and an attractive smile isn’t something that happens overnight, and nor is it something that we should expect. It takes a lot of work, but if you’re willing to put it in, it’s so worth it.
Before you even start treating any damage, it’s worth remembering that all the foods and drinks that we put in between our teeth can have a negative impact. If you’re a big tea and coffee drinker, then you might find staining accelerates quicker. Learn more about how the teeth gets discoloured here.
Common methods for teeth whitening
Whitening toothpaste
One of the oldest methods of keeping the teeth white and fresh is by brushing with toothpaste. It may sound simple, but you’d be surprised at how many people don’t give their teeth a good brush for two minutes twice a day. Even your standard toothpaste typically contain abrasives that remove stains from the teeth. Just through brushing, chemical agents in the toothpaste gently polish the surface of the tooth and remove most stains. So give it a go before you try harsher or more expensive treatments.
There are so many different kinds of toothpaste. While there are regular ones, there are also ones that are meant specifically for teeth whitening. These kinds usually have ingredients such as hydrogen peroxide and other chemicals that aid the breakdown of stains. By brushing regularly with them, you can achieve some level of whitening.
Rather than drastically changing the colour of your teeth, whitening toothpastes may be better suited to maintaining a whiter colour after you’ve used another whitening method, especially when it comes to deep and dark stains.
Hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent. In fact, it is found in most home whitening and cleaning solutions and it is good for changing the colour of the teeth. However, it is NOT recommended that you use without guidance, and if you do use it, do so carefully as it may hurt your gums. You may want to read further on the uses and benefits of hydrogen peroxide as it concerns the care of your teeth.
Oil pulling
This is the practice of swishing edible oil around in the mouth for a bit, holding it in, and then spitting it out. It is similar to using a mouth wash. Although it is a pretty old tradition from way back in the day, it’s made an appearance into many people’s beauty routines in recent years.
Types of oil you can use for pulling include olive oil, sesame oil, coconut oil and sunflower oil. Oil pulling also helps to remove any debris from between your teeth and in the corners of your mouth.
Baking soda
If you like to spend time in the kitchen, then you’ll already know what baking soda is. It’s a crystalline powder that has natural alkaline properties. Although you can pop it in your cakes, its alkalinity makes it abrasive and therefore it can used in removing stains, as well as around the house as a cleaning agent.
To use it, mix the baking soda with a little water to form a paste. Apply this to your toothbrush and brush as you would normally with standard toothpaste. This method should be an additional step in your beauty regime.
Using baking soda isn’t a quick fix method; you’ll need to be consistent. Two times a week is enough, anymore and you risk hurting your gums.
Fruits
Remember when we said that everything we put in our mouth has an impact on our teeth? Well, some of those can be good. Eating certain fruits can also help in the long run towards whitening your teeth. Apples contain malic acid that helps in boosting saliva in the mouth to wash away bacteria. Pineapples contain bromelain, which is a compound that can whiten teeth. Eating these fruits regularly – in addition to regular brushing – can slowly help to improve the condition and colour of your teeth. In any case, you have nothing to lose by eating them as they are good for your overall health!
Head to the dentist
No matter how well you look after your teeth, it’s still recommended that you visit your dentist at least twice a year – once every six months. Not only does this help to keep your teeth healthy, but your dentist will be able to spot any potential issues before they rear their heads and can start treatment straight away. They can also send you to a dental hygienist for scaling and polishing to remove any debris and tartar that may be causing discolouration.
Asides from the above methods, there are various artificial teeth whitening kits that are available in pharmacies and drug stores that you can buy. You can find some of these right here https://www.yahoo.com/now/6-best-teeth-whitening-kits-120000545.html. Before using any of these kits though, it is advisable to speak with your dentist. They may be able to recommend the best one for you based on your oral history.
