Nothing ruins a selfie like yellow, discolored teeth, but as you get older it can be quite difficult to keep your pearly whites looking pearly white. Over time, the enamel covering your teeth gets worn and discolored by food and drink, and this can be exacerbated if you also happen to smoke.
The good news is that there are ways to keep your teeth whiter for longer, and to whiten them again after they have become stained. Here are four of the most effective.
1. Eat Lots of Fruits and Vegetables
Good oral healthy begins on your plate. What you put into your mouth will affect everything from pH balance to bacteria count, which in turn has a dramatic impact on the strength and color of your teeth.
The simplest way to keep your teeth whiter is by eating a diet rich in crunchy vegetables that can rub plaque away and improve the natural chemical balance in your mouth. In particular, some fruits, vegetables, and dairy products have been shown to have a natural whitening effect on teeth. To that end, try to make the following foods a regular part of your diet:
- Strawberries
- Pineapple
- Broccoli
- Cheese
- Milk
- Carrots
- Celery
Being pro-active in your eating won’t just help strengthen your teeth and keep them naturally healthy for longer, it will also create a generally healthier environment for your mouth.
2. Practice Oil Pulling
In addition to loading up on crunchy vegetables and naturally-whitening fruits, you can also beat back bacteria through a practice known as oil pulling.
Oil pulling simply involves swilling oil around in your mouth at least once a day. The oil reduces the amount of bacteria in your mouth and can also fight gingivitis and plaque build-up. The most popular oil to use is coconut oil (which can also reduce inflammation), but sesame and sunflower oil will also do.
3. Book a Whitening Appointment with Your Dentist
Natural, preventive tooth-whitening practices should be part of everyone’s routine, but if you haven’t always been diligent about oral health that doesn’t mean you now have to live with stained teeth.
Dentists can help you return your teeth to their naturally white state, so book an appointment at Ocean Dental Studio to find out more about whitening procedures and whether whitening might be right for you.
4. Get Dental Veneers
Sometimes discoloration effects teeth unevenly, and your dazzling white smile is thrown off by a single stained incisor. While whitening may be able to help, if there is more serious damage to the enamel it might be worth investing in dental veneers.
Veneers are thin, strong shells usually made of porcelain that are bonded to teeth. Veneers are great for cracked and discolored teeth, and because their color can be matched to the teeth around them, they are a perfect solution for fixing individual teeth.
Strong teeth are essential for good oral health, but they are also a unique feature in your face. Everyone has a different smile, which is why most of us are eager to give our smile the best possible shine. If you’re feeling self-conscious about stained or discolored teeth, don’t worry: with preventive oral healthcare and a visit to your Boynton beach dentist, you can make sure your smile will always dazzle.
