10 Tips On How To Whiten Teeth Naturally
A big part of a confident smile involves the color of your teeth. Bright, clean and dazzlingly white teeth are a mark of good hygiene and superior health. The truth is, as one ages, teeth may become dingy or stained as a result of a variety of external influences and environmental factors. Stained teeth are nothing to be ashamed of, but returning your teeth to their original, white color is important for boosting self-esteem and protecting your teeth against further damage. With a few simple tips, you can naturally whiten your teeth without having to resort to using harsh chemicals or bleaching agents.
1. Avoid Foods that Stain Teeth
Prevention is, by far, the best medicine when attempting to keep your teeth looking beautiful and white. It is important to try to avoid consuming large quantities of food that will stain your teeth and cause discoloration as much as possible. Common foods with the most staining potential are coffee, tea and wine. Coffee and tea can give teeth a dingy brown coloration and wine has actually been proven to cause a bluish or greenish tint in teeth if consumed in large quantities.
2. Consume Fibrous, Tooth Whitening Foods
Surface stains on teeth are often embedded in a layer of plaque or tarter. When this layer of grime is removed from the surface of the teeth, most stains are scrubbed away along with the dirty layer. You can help to buff your teeth to a beautiful shine by consuming larger quantities of fibrous or abrasive foods. Foods that have fibrous properties and that can help to naturally eliminate stains are apples, broccoli, celery, cauliflower, and pears.
3. Sip Drinks Through A Straw
One great tip for preventing or reducing staining from certain liquids is to sip drinks using a straw. When drinks are consumed with a straw, the bulk of the liquid is deposited behind the teeth unlike drinking from a glass which deposits the liquid in front of the teeth where it is moved by the tongue to the back of the throat. Consuming drinks through a straw will reduce the amount of liquid that comes into contact with the front of your teeth, thereby reducing the potential for these liquids to deposit stains.
4. Add Baking Soda to Toothpaste
Baking soda has long been touted as the greatest cleaning aid in the grocery store. With baking soda, you can remove stains from carpets, bathtubs, clothing and yes, even your teeth. By adding a little baking soda to your toothbrush before you brush your teeth, you can achieve a whiter smile in just a few weeks. Baking soda is abrasive, which helps to remove surface stains, but its chemical properties also react with stains to lift them from inside the dentin on your teeth and whisk them away.
5. Floss Regularly for Healthy Gums
Flossing may not seem like a solution for achieving whiter teeth, but healthier gums can actually make your teeth look brighter, more defined and therefore whiter. Gums that are unhealthy are often grimy and loose which can make teeth look worse than they actually are.
6. Stop Smoking
Smoking causes tooth staining, and a habitual smoker will constantly deal with unsightly staining on the surface of his or her teeth. To avoid having to deal with stains that keep coming back, it is important to stop smoking completely. The tar and tobacco mixture in cigarettes deposits one of the toughest stains to remove on teeth.
7. Invest in an Electric Toothbrush
An electric toothbrush will make a world of difference in the health and beauty of your smile. Electric toothbrushes powerfully swift back and forth and have a circular motion that can scrub away stains without damaging precious tooth enamel. Switching to an electric toothbrush will provide a whiter smile in just a few weeks.
8. Brush Teeth Immediately After Eating
One way to prevent stains from accumulating is to brush teeth immediately after eating or drinking a food with staining properties. Often, stains are created when food remains on the surface of the teeth and is absorbed by the enamel coating. When you brush immediately after eating, food is quickly removed from the teeth before it can cause staining.
9. Choose the Right Lipstick Shade
The right shade of lipstick may be able to make your teeth appear whiter than they actually are. Bold shades of lipstick that complement your skin tone. Such as bright red or dark pink, will make teeth visually pop in the mouth. A muted color of lipstick may cause teeth to look dim or dingy.
10. Use a Skin Bronzing Lotion
One of the easiest ways to make your teeth appear brighter is to make your skin darker. While extensive tanning in the sun is not recommended because of adverse health effects, a moisturizing skin bronzer may make your skin just dark enough to cause your teeth to appear whiter.
Boost Your Confidence with a Naturally Whiter Smile
There is no reason to suffer anymore with a dingy, dirty or stained smile. Even if you are uncomfortable with using whitening strips or whitening gel to powerfully remove surface stains, you can achieve a whiter smile naturally by following these easy steps. A whiter smile will boost your confidence and help you stand out in a crowd.
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About Delialah Falcon Delialah Falcon has been a freelance medical writer/editor/researcher for over 10 years. After pursuing a degree in Journalism and English Literature, she returned to school to study holistic nutrition and herbology with the intent of becoming a naturopath. Her combined expertise led her to a freelance writing career specializing in health and wellness. She has her own advice column at Examiner.com where she is the Charlotte Alternative Medicine Examiner. She has partnered with other writers to write dozens of eBooks in the health niche. Her work has appeared on numerous websites, including USAToday, The Daily Puppy, Livestrong Nutrition and many others. She is excited to be writing for SymptomFind where she looks forward to sharing her knowledge with her readers.
