The goal is a brilliantly white smile that communicates good health and youthful vigor. What can hinder your ability to achieve that dazzle in your grin? One factor is age. As if it’s not bad enough that old age already introduces wrinkles and grey hair, teeth can also darken as the years start to add up.
Other smile-dimmers include external factors such as the use of tobacco , along with the consumption of various foods and drinks. We discussed a number of these teeth-staining culprits. Here are 4 steps you can take to minimize their discoloring effect on teeth, and to keep your smile shining proudly:
Skip the Stainers
Just say no! Of course it’s easier said than done, but by dropping the tobacco habit, and learning to avoid unnecessary tooth-super-stainers, your teeth will thank you with a brighter grin.
Make Adjustments
Most individuals are simply not willing to kick their favorite beverage to the curb. There are, however, simple adjustments that can be made to encourage whiter teeth, and still keep your taste-buds happy.
- Add milk to your black coffee to lighten things up.
- Drink lighter colored teas as opposed to their darker, stain causing counterparts.
- Trade in your glass of red wine for a tasty glass of white.
- Drink beverages such as colas with a straw to limit contact with teeth.
- Avoid unnecessarily swishing the beverage around in your mouth.
Act Quickly
Enjoy a delectable dish smothered in tomato sauce, a bowl of juicy blueberries, or a refreshing class of cranberry juice, but take actions to minimize their staining qualities.
- Brush your teeth soon afterwards. Pro tip: Acidic products such as colas soften teeth enamel, so wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth.
- Rinsing your mouth out with water helps remove any stain-causing debris remaining in the mouth, and also helps neutralize the effects of acidic foods and beverages.
- Chewing sugar-free gum stimulates the production of saliva. This helps protect teeth from staining, and limits the development of plaque and bacteria.
Professional Help
Despite our best efforts, the brightness of our smile can diminish over time. Your highly-skilled dentist offers a number of effective options in resolving issues with discolored, stain-riddled teeth.
- Professional teeth whitening—Dramatically climb the tooth brightening scale in a single treatment.
- Porcelain veneers—Skillfully attached to teeth to resolve smile issues including discoloration and staining.
- We have a process of how we make smiles with Dr. Kara, a leading cosmetic dentist in the Vancouver area. Check it out
Give the gift of gorgeous, bright smiles by sharing( link to FB button with word share) this information with your friends and family. Nothing says I love my smile like an ear-to-ear grin of dazzling pearly whites!
If you were only allowed to drink one beverage other than water, what would your choice be?