In the age of Instagram and selfies, everyone wants a bright smile. Keep in mind there are many reasons your smile can yellow that we covered in a previous post, from age, diet, hygiene and medication.. In this blog, we go over daily habits you can do to keep your smile bright and healthy.
Brush Twice Daily and Floss
Brushing and flossing removes food particles that can stain and also removes plaque, the film of bacterial that covers your teeth. Your daily oral hygiene not only keeps your smile bright, it also prevents gingivitis, gum disease, and decay.
But Don’t Brush Teeth Immediately After Eating
Wait at least an hour after eating before brushing your teeth. Why bother? The acids from foods can soften your enamel. Enamel is hard translucent material that covers your teeth. Brushing can wear away that protective layer when it’s most vulnerable. As enamel thins it exposes more of the darker yellow dentine - resulting in a darker smile.
See Your Hygienist Regularly
Your hygienist removes stains and tartar buildup - that hard calcified buildup from plaque. Brushing and flossing alone won’t remove tartar. We recommend to most patients to come at least every 6 months for their hygiene cleaning. Schedule your hygiene cleaning
Avoid Foods That Stain
A good measure of whether a food can stain your teeth is: if it will stain your white shirt it will likely stain your teeth. Ketchup, chocolate, coffee, tea, curry, are some of the top foods that stain your teeth but are some of the treat of life. So what to do? Limit the exposure of these foods when you do enjoy them. Use a straw, rinse your mouth with water after eating them and don’t sip a coffee all day at your desk.
Get Enough Calcium
We all know that calcium is a good way to keep your bones. They also can strengthen your teeth. Getting enough calcium in your diet can strengthen your teeth. The stronger they are the brighter they appear.
Kick the Habit
Don’t take up smoking and if you are, quit now. Tar and nicotine in cigarette smoke stain your teeth but that should probably be the least of your concerns. You put yourself at risk of lung cancer, heart disease, gum disease and countless of other preventable illnesses.
Forget DIY Teeth Whitening Tips
There are popular home tricks floating around the internet but they could be doing more harm to your teeth. While they claim to save your money and time, they can be at the cost of the health of your smile. Some popular tips are using lemon, vinegar, strawberries which are acidic and work by wearing away at layers of your stained enamel. The effects are temporary but the damage can be permanent. We recommend sticking with scientifically proven and dentist approved including our teeth whitening options that fit your budget and schedule.