What Makes Teeth White?
White teeth make a great first impression, but you might have to put in extra effort to keep them looking their pearly best. Several options are available for making your teeth their whitest, including some inexpensive home remedies made with products you may have around the house. Your dentist can whiten your teeth, and there are also many over-the-counter whitening products available. With so many teeth whitening choices, few of us can justify ever having lackluster smiles.
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Brushing and Flossing
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Brush your teeth after every meal with a fluoride toothpaste, and floss daily to remove superficial stains and maintain healthy gums. Avoiding flossing can have an impact on overall health, potentially causing infection, tooth loss and other more serious health problems.
Electric toothbrushes are also an option for reducing superficial stains.
Professional Cleanings
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Visit a dentist twice a year for professional cleanings to keep them at their whitest. Professional cleanings involve a painless polishing of each tooth, plaque removal and a thorough flossing. Your dentist may want to take X-rays during these visits to check for decay.
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Over-the-Counter Whiteners
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Try a few over-the-counter whitening products if you feel your teeth could use a little extra whitening boost beyond what you'll get from brushing. They're available as toothpastes and paint-on gels, overnight trays with gels and whitening strips. These products have varying levels of peroxide in them (anywhere from 10 to 22 percent according to American Dental Association), so be sure to check with your dentist before you use any of them. Some people's teeth are not well suited for teeth whitening products; for example, if you have front tooth crowns or tooth-colored fillings, neither of these will be lightened by the whitening agents.
Homemade Whitener
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Mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a few drops of hydrogen peroxide for an effective teeth whitening home remedy. Baking soda alone is also effective at removing stains and killing harmful bacteria. It can also be mixed with salt (three parts baking soda and 1 part salt) to whiten and clean your teeth and gums. Once you've mixed the products, apply them to your toothbrush just like you would with a regular toothpaste. Be sure to not swallow this concoction.
Dental Office Whitening
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Have your dentist do the job for you if you're not comfortable with the procedure of whitening your own teeth. She will apply a material to your gums to protect them before applying a whitening agent to your teeth. A laser may be used to enhance the effect of the whitening materials. Plan for two 30-minute visits to complete the task. Your dentist may also recommend tray and gel products that you will use at home.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit worthamdental.com
