9 Lifestyle Tips & Tricks For Whiter Teeth
9 Lifestyle Tips & Tricks For Whiter Teeth
Table of Content
1. Maintain Good Oral Hygiene At All Times
Brushing your teeth at least twice a day is the best way to maintain good oral hygiene. Why? That’s because brushing prevents plaque from forming. Plaque is the off-white creamy, dull layer on your teeth, and is often the result of poor brushing habits. Over time, it accumulates the minerals from your saliva and hardens into a yellow substance called tartar that masks your white teeth and makes it appear yellow.
2. Rinse Your Mouth Thoroughly After Drinking Dark Coloured Beverages
Beverages like coffee, tea and red wine contain tannins, a substance that causes colour compounds to stick on your teeth, leaving an unwanted yellow stain behind. A simple yet great way to wash them off is to rinse your mouth thoroughly. You can also brush your teeth to clean away tannins, but make sure to wait for at least 30 minutes after consuming the drink.
This is because your teeth become more vulnerable after consuming acidic foods and drinks, and brushing immediately can end up causing more harm to the teeth enamel.
3. Use a Straw When Drinking Dark Coloured Beverages
Using a straw is an easy and effective method to prevent staining as it lessens the contact of the beverage with your front teeth. It works even more in your favour if you are consuming sugary or acidic drinks because it reduces the chances of tooth decay and erosion!
4. Include More Vegetables And Fruits In Your Diet
Vegetables and fruits contain higher fibre content, and they require more chewing to break them down. In the process, more saliva is produced, helping wash away food residue, cleanse your oral cavity and keep your teeth shiny-white. Certain fruits like pineapple and papaya contain proteolytic enzymes that can dissolve proteins which cause yellowish appearance on your teeth (1).
5. Get A Healthy Tanned-Skin Look
There is just something stylish and irresistible about glowing, tanned skin and a bright, white smile. With a healthy dose of sun exposure, you can draw all the attention to that pretty, radiant smile of yours. Instead of going to the beach for sunbathing, you can start picking up outdoor exercises in the evening. It will not only make you healthier, but also help your teeth appear whiter once you have achieved a healthy tan.
6. Choose The Right Lipstick Shade
Lipstick makeup plays a huge impact on your teeth’s appearance, similarly to how tanned-skin helps create contrast between the skin and teeth. The lipstick makeup secret for whiter teeth is the lipstick shade you choose.
For instance, a bright red shade may amplify the yellowness of the teeth, while a pinkish or purple shade with blue undertone can counteract the tones of yellow, making your teeth appear whiter and your smile brighter. Meanwhile, a glossy lipstick brings out a more youthful look and feel, creating the illusion of a brighter smile.
7. Use Over-The-Counter Tooth Whitening Strips
Over-the-counter tooth whitening strips are thin, transparent plastic strips that are coated with a peroxide-based whitening gel that you can apply onto your teeth to achieve a whiter tooth shade. For the best outcome, apply the whitening strips one day prior to your important day as the effect of whitening strips is more apparent on the next day. As it will eventually wear off, you might want to consider other alternatives especially if maintenance is tedious to you.
8. Use Teeth Whitening Home Remedies
It is common for people to search for natural ways to make their yellowish teeth appear whiter as it is always more affordable, and one of the more popular methods is to brush the teeth with baking soda and activated charcoal powder.
Why baking soda and charcoal powder?
Baking soda has natural whitening properties, and it is a mild abrasive that can help to scrub away surface-level stains on the teeth. Meanwhile, activated charcoal powder is a highly absorbent substance, believed to be able to get rid of bacteria in the mouth. However, baking soda and charcoal powder are made of fine, abrasive grains, so make sure to not brush too long or vigorously. Otherwise, it could cause thinning & damage to the enamel layer – not only making your teeth appear more yellow but could also lead to sensitive teeth or toothache in the future.
9. Use Over-The-Counter Whitening Toothpaste
If you are searching for a long-term and affordable solution, you can always count on whitening toothpastes. Available over the counter and in mass retail chains like pharmacies, supermarkets and hypermarkets, whitening toothpastes are formulated to be gentle to the tooth enamel while removing stains and whitening the teeth. Most importantly, there are actually toothpastes that use efficacious teeth whitening ingredients such as baking soda and charcoal powder. Such toothpastes offer a synergistic teeth whitening effect that isn’t possible with home whitening remedies alone. As most teeth whitening toothpastes contain fluoride, brushing with it regularly can also remineralise your tooth enamel while slowing down wear and tear as well. Another ingredient that helps whiten teeth are natural enzymes, which is why enzyme toothpastes are very popular now.
Practice These Easy Tips Now!
With these simple tips for whiter teeth that are easy to follow, you can achieve that radiant smile you have always dreamed of and shine in confidence all-day, everyday. No pressure though, just do what works best for you, so long as you stay healthy and safe.
References
- Vejai Vekaash, C. J., Kumar Reddy, T. V., & Venkatesh, K. V. (2017). Effect of vital bleaching with solutions containing different concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and pineapple extract as an additive on human enamel using reflectance spectrophotometer: An in vitro study. Journal of conservative dentistry: JCD, 20(5), 337–340. https://doi.org/10.4103/JCD.JCD_197_17
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