5 Effortless Solutions to Naturally Brighten Your Smile

Having stained or yellowed teeth can do severe damage to your confidence and self-esteem. This is because it makes you overly conscious about your teeth, and this, in turn, makes it almost impossible for you to freely smile, socialize, and interact with the people around you every day.

There are many benefits of having a whiter smile, such as a better first impression, increased self-confidence, and a more youthful appearance. It’s easy to understand why teeth whitening has become such a popular dental procedure!

What Causes Tooth Staining and Yellowing?

Naturally, most people assume that tooth staining or yellowing is a direct indication of poor oral hygiene; this is not always the case.

Tooth staining or yellowing can be linked to several factors apart from poor oral hygiene practices, and these may include:

• Enamel thinning that may be attributed to aging can cause yellowing of teeth
• Consuming beverages and foods that stain teeth such as coffee, soda, and wine can lead to tooth staining over time
• Lifestyle choices such as smoking, or using tobacco have also been shown to cause teeth staining
• Tooth stains can also be brought about by the use of certain medications such as antibiotics and chemotherapy drugs
• Periodontal diseases also cause tooth yellowing
• Tooth decay can also cause tooth staining if left unchecked
• Overconsumption of acidic foods can also lead to yellowing of teeth
• Overexposure to fluoride particularly during childhood can also result in tooth staining

Dealing with tooth discoloration or staining can prove to be a difficult task if you do not know the root cause. Our dentist can help you discover the reason why your teeth are discolored.

If your tooth stains are caused by intrinsic factors such as enamel depletion, periodontal disease, or tooth decay, our dentist will have to resolve the underlying issues before providing professional tooth whitening.

Our dentist will ensure that any oral health issue is permanently resolved before performing an in-house tooth whitening session or advocating for a natural teeth whitening solution that you can use to brighten your smile.

Natural Whitening Solutions

Apart from our in-office tooth whitening procedures, our patients use several natural solutions to ensure their pearly whites stay brilliantly white.

These natural solutions not only brighten teeth but help keep tooth discoloration at bay altogether. These natural teeth whitening solutions include:

1. Practicing Proper Oral Hygiene

Without maintaining oral hygiene, it is impossible to keep your teeth white and stain free. Regular brushing at least twice a day for two minutes and flossing regularly go a long way in ensuring your smile stays bright.

Regular brushing and flossing is the first critical step towards keeping tooth discoloration at bay. This is because it prevents enamel thinning, tooth decay, and periodontal diseases, which cause tooth discoloration.

2. Watch Out for Staining Foods

Extrinsic tooth stains can be caused by some of the food and dietary choices we make daily. Regular consumption of beverages such as cola, dark juices, red wine, coffee, and tea can result in tooth discoloration. Similarly, foods such as dark berries can also result in tooth discoloration.

It is difficult to ignore these staining foods or give them up altogether. However, to keep tooth discoloration at bay, you will need to moderate your consumption of such foods and ensure you rinse out your mouth after consuming any of the staining foods or beverages.

3. Limit Sugar Intake

Consuming a lot of sugar or a carbohydrate-rich diet can also cause tooth discoloration and yellowing. These foods are acidic and tend to lead to the enamel’s corrosion, resulting in yellowed teeth.

Limit sugar intake to keep your smile bright and your teeth and gums healthy and disease-free.

4. Eat Fruits and Vegetables

You should ensure you eat fruits and vegetables daily. Crunchy fruits such as apples and pears, or crunchy vegetables such as celery stimulate saliva production and eliminate plaque buildup on teeth, which helps ensure your mouth stays clean and free of food debris that is a precursor for tooth decay.

Also, consuming fruits rich in the “bromelain enzyme,” such as the pineapple, is an effective natural way of dealing with tooth discoloration.

5. Brush With Some Baking Soda

Brushing your teeth with baking soda has been proven to be a safe and readily available tooth whitening solution.

Baking soda is mildly abrasive and can, therefore, gently eradicate teeth stains when used regularly. It has also been shown to be effective in fighting bacteria responsible for tooth decay.

Contact Barry J. Cunha DDS today for in-office teeth whitening.