A healthy, bright white smile can keep you happy and confident, while leaving a good impression on others. If you feel like your smile could use some work or if you are unhappy with stains and discoloration, it can leave you feeling like you are unable to smile in public and stick you with a lack of self-confidence. Along with consistent, regular check-ups with a dentist, there are many things that you can do yourself to ensure that you have the best smile you can.
A good dentist will tell you to avoid using teeth-whitening products if you have other oral health concerns, such as cavities that need to be filled or gum sensitivity. Whitening products can use strong components to whiten teeth and can make gums more sensitive and cause pain if you have cavities that need to be filled. There are other options for ensuring a brighter smile; however, they may take more time to achieve the results you need even though they are gentler on your teeth and gums.
Some advice a dentist will give for a bright white smile are regarding lifestyle choices. They will recommend avoiding dark beverages such as tea, coffee, and red wine as they stain teeth very quickly. If you do continue to drink these beverages, it is recommended that you use a straw to minimize contact with teeth to help avoid staining. Avoid soda and other sugary beverages as they can severely impact the health of your teeth. It is also recommended that you do not eat potato chips as it has been shown that the starch contained in chips can damage teeth, too.
Another lifestyle recommendation is to avoid smoking or chewing tobacco products. Not only do these cause bad breath and other severe health problems, but also nicotine staining is one of the most common causes of discolored teeth. A positive step you can take is to chew sugar-free gum after meals, as this will encourage saliva production and help wash away food particles that can impact the health of your teeth.
Most of all, it is important to brush your teeth regularly. While one dentist will recommend brushing after every meal, another may suggest that it is best to limit to twice daily. Current research shows that twice a day is probably the most effective amount and brushing any more than that could cause gum sensitivity. Next, use a mouthwash they are very effective at killing bacteria that causes bad breath and removing stains. Using whitening toothpaste or mouthwash is gentler than intensive whitening products and are more safe to use as a good option for gradual stain removal and teeth whitening.
A good dentist will tell you to avoid using teeth-whitening products if you have other oral health concerns, such as cavities that need to be filled or gum sensitivity. Whitening products can use strong components to whiten teeth and can make gums more sensitive and cause pain if you have cavities that need to be filled. There are other options for ensuring a brighter smile; however, they may take more time to achieve the results you need even though they are gentler on your teeth and gums.
Some advice a dentist will give for a bright white smile are regarding lifestyle choices. They will recommend avoiding dark beverages such as tea, coffee, and red wine as they stain teeth very quickly. If you do continue to drink these beverages, it is recommended that you use a straw to minimize contact with teeth to help avoid staining. Avoid soda and other sugary beverages as they can severely impact the health of your teeth. It is also recommended that you do not eat potato chips as it has been shown that the starch contained in chips can damage teeth, too.
Another lifestyle recommendation is to avoid smoking or chewing tobacco products. Not only do these cause bad breath and other severe health problems, but also nicotine staining is one of the most common causes of discolored teeth. A positive step you can take is to chew sugar-free gum after meals, as this will encourage saliva production and help wash away food particles that can impact the health of your teeth.
Most of all, it is important to brush your teeth regularly. While one dentist will recommend brushing after every meal, another may suggest that it is best to limit to twice daily. Current research shows that twice a day is probably the most effective amount and brushing any more than that could cause gum sensitivity. Next, use a mouthwash they are very effective at killing bacteria that causes bad breath and removing stains. Using whitening toothpaste or mouthwash is gentler than intensive whitening products and are more safe to use as a good option for gradual stain removal and teeth whitening.