How You Can Keep Your Teeth White

Keeping up with beauty standards in today’s world has never been harder. For those of you struggling to keep your teeth white, the comforting news is that there are lots of teeth whitening options. Because of the CoVID-19 pandemic, a visit to the dentist is probably not high on your list of concerns, which means at-home teeth whitening has the spotlight. From toothpaste to blue light treatment, at-home options have never been easier or more affordable. You may feel overwhelmed at the number of options, so let’s cover the most approachable methods.

Best Ways to Keep Your Teeth White

Whitening Toothpaste

The simplest option for a brighter smile is whitening toothpaste. These kinds of toothpaste contain ingredients that scrub away at surface stains caused by substances such as coffee, wine and cigarettes. Whitening toothpaste tends to be gentler than other whitening options and if you’re looking for a straightforward solution, this may be the best choice for lightly stained teeth.

Whitening Rinses

These whiteners require rinsing your mouth more than once a day for sixty seconds.

Whitening rinses are not our preferred stain removers, as they can take up to 3 months of use to see only one or two shades of whiter teeth.

Bleaching Strips

Bleaching strips may sound scary but have no fear. These strips are peroxide gel strips applied to your teeth to achieve varying shades of white and also include packages for sensitive teeth. The peroxide used is carbamide or hydrogen peroxide (not liquid bleach), which should whiten surface stains in a safe and effective way.

One of the most popular whitening options means lots of alternate brands and products. You want to be careful about which whiteners you use and be sure to follow instructions. Some products may cause irritation to your teeth or gums from the peroxide or improper use.

We recommend using products for sensitive teeth as they are less likely to irritate your gums or cause degradation of the tooth surface. According to some studies, this is a possible side-effect of using some bleaching strips. The American Dental Association has approved Colgate’s 3D White Strips as a safe at-home choice.

LED Whitening Kits

Though there is an undeniable LED trend amongst celebrities – there is also controversy surrounding the effectiveness of at-home LED whitening kits. For this reason, if you decide LED whitening is the way to go, book an appointment with a trusted dentist for a professional application.

Maintenance

Once you’ve achieved the white shade you’re looking for, locking down some simple changes can help maintain that bright smile.

Though some of us have yellowing teeth because of genetics or ageing, a sizeable portion of discolouration is because of how we treat our teeth. If you want those pearly whites to stay pearly, you may need to make a few changes.

Brushing and Flossing

We know, we know, it’s the same tired instructions… But they’re tried and true! To maintain white teeth, you need to remove plaque by brushing and flossing consistently. Colgate’s suggestion is a minimum of twice a day – after breakfast and before you head to bed. They also encourage you to brush after eating or drinking coffee or wine.

Avoid Food and Drink that Stains

Certain drinks and food contain ingredients that cause teeth discolouration, such as the previously mentioned coffee and wine. However, other beverages such as tea and soda can also cause staining, sometimes to a worse degree. Chemicals called chromogens are the reason some of our food and drink are so darkly coloured – and are also the source of stains. Drinks such as coffee, tea and wine contain chromogens and tannins – another compound that encourages chromogens to discolour our teeth. The combination of chromogens and tannins makes some food and drink worse than others.

Cutting down on these foods will help keep your teeth whiter and brighter, as well as rinsing or brushing after consumption.

Smoking Kills Your Smile

If you’re serious about keeping white teeth – get serious about quitting tobacco. Whether you chew tobacco or smoke cigarettes, nicotine does serious damage to your enamel.

Because of the additional underlying health risks from nicotine and tobacco, we recommend completely ridding them from your day-to-day and embrace a glowing smile you didn’t think was possible.

Contact Smile Well Dental. Located near Capilano Mall, with the best dentists in North Vancouver. Come visit us today.