You may feel self-conscious if your teeth have become stained or discolored. Maintaining a bright, white smile involves a bit of work, commitment, and occasionally some at-home teeth whitening products. You can also talk to your dentist about in-office teeth whitening services as a safe way to achieve the smile you desire.
To learn more about teeth whitening services, reach out to your dentist today.
5 Ways to Keep Your Teeth White
If you’d like to ensure that your teeth stay bright, white, and beautiful, make sure you follow these five teeth whitening tips.
1. Practice Good Oral Hygiene
The most important thing you can do for whiter teeth is to practice good oral hygiene. Simply brushing once a day and flossing once in a while is not enough.
To keep your teeth and mouth as healthy as possible, you need to brush at least twice a day and floss once a day, every day. This will keep your teeth as bright and white as possible and will also decrease your chances of getting cavities, prevent gum disease, as well as bad breath.
If you are experiencing any tooth or gum-related pain, talk to your dentist right away. While taking care of your teeth and gums at home is important, your dentist will be able to refer you for specialty services such as an endodontist, if needed.
2. Eat Foods That Are Good for Your Teeth
You may be aware of the kinds of foods that will do damage to your teeth; anything that’s high in sugar or acidic will wear down your tooth enamel and potentially cause cavities. But some foods promote shiny, white, beautiful teeth.
These foods include cheese, nuts, apples, pears, leafy greens, strawberries, sweet potatoes, and even garlic.
3. Avoid Teeth-Staining Drinks
Certain beverages can cause staining that only a teeth whitening procedure from your dentist will remove. Things like coffee, red wine, soda, sports drinks, and even tea will cause discoloration in your teeth.
Also, certain foods will have the same effect on your smile if you eat them too frequently, including fruits and berries, tomato sauce, and certain candies. You don’t need to avoid these foods and drinks altogether, but you shouldn’t eat them in excess, and you should try to rinse your mouth with water when you do eat them. If you have mouthwash on hand, this can be even more effective. Of course, the most reliable way to prevent stains on your teeth is to brush after consuming the beverage and foods listed above.
4. Regular Dental Visits
Going to see your dentist at least once every six months is one of the best ways to keep your teeth sparkling white. They offer teeth whitening services and other cosmetic dentistry procedures that are more thorough than anything you can do at home. In addition, they will remove plaque and tartar and monitor your mouth for cavities and gingivitis. If you’re in need of endodontic services like a root canal, your dentist will refer you to a respected endodontist near you.
5. Avoid Smoking
Concerns over the whiteness of your teeth probably shouldn’t be the main reason why you quit smoking, but it should certainly be one of them. Cigarette smoke is bad for your lungs, heart, gums, mouth, teeth, and more. It can cause your smile to become discolored and make teeth-whitening challenging or even futile. Smoking can also cause a number of other issues with your oral health. If you want a white smile, talk to your doctor about quitting.
Access Endodontics: Quality Endodontic Services in Ellicott City, MD
If you’re in need of endodontic services in the Howard County area, visit Drs. Lina Jarboe and Burton Waxman at Access Endodontics today at 410.304.7226 or connect with our team online.