4 Steps To Naturally Whiter Teeth

[24hrdental.net]

Who wouldn't love to have teeth that shine like pearls and brighten our smiles? Unfortunately, for most of us, our teeth often end up bearing the brunt of our fast paced lifestyle. This involves staining due to the constant consumption of tea, coffee or cigarettes.

Even if your teeth aren't stained as a result of the above, they don't really stay as white as we'd like them to be. This could be because of hereditary reasons, aging, poor dental hygiene, antibiotics, climactic conditions, infections, etc.

But all is not lost. If you want to restore your teeth to their pearly white glory, here are a four simple steps you can follow.

Brush and Floss well and regularly

Bacteria thrive on sugars and convert it to acid that causes enamel decay and yellowing of the teeth.

Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing them will ensure that all food particles from in between are removed. This is very important for clean, healthy and sparkling teeth and gums and is actually the most inexpensive way of getting white teeth.

Flossing is essential for good dental health and also helps remove stains from between your teeth, where many whitening kits can't reach. In fact, if you practice good oral hygiene, you won't even need to purchase teeth whitening strips and waste any money on them nor will you face any dental issues such as tooth decay and smelly breath.

Consume food items that help whiten teeth

Studies suggest that you can actually whiten your teeth naturally by consuming crunchy fruits and vegetable like carrots, apples, celery as well as nuts. These foods are naturally abrasive and help scrub teeth clean naturally. Fruits like pineapples contain bromelain, which breaks up plaque on the teeth and apples are known to contain malic acid, a chemical which is also used in teeth whitening products to dissolve stains.

Apart from the above, leafy green vegetables like spinach, lettuce and broccoli, contain iron that forms a film over the teeth thus making them acid resistant and protects the enamel. Some more foods you can add to your diet, are raw onions, shitake mushrooms and basil minimise the bacteria in your mouth. Ginger is anti-inflammatory and thus, also good for your dental health.

Some studies suggest that eating a little cheese after meals prevents decay, helps repair teeth and keeps acid level in the mouth low. This along with the fact that dairy has calcium, which is essential for strong teeth also prove its importance for healthy teeth.

Mix up that Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide

Baking soda, an ingredient easily found in most kitchens, is actually an amazing, natural teeth-whitening product. Even if you do not happen to have these ingredients, you can easily purchase them from your local pharmacy or supermarket.

Mix a little hydrogen peroxide with some baking soda and make a paste. Using this, brush your teeth like always, making sure you brush all your teeth properly and reach every corner possible.

Hydrogen peroxide being an anti-bacterial agent, works really well as a total mouth and gum cleaner and helps keep the mouth free from germs and bacteria. Baking soda on the other hand is a gritty substance somewhat like sandpaper, so be cautious and use only a little bit while brushing. Also, ensure that you don't scrub your teeth too hard as that might lead to enamel damage, which is irreversible.

Avoid any food that may damage your pearly whites

Vitamin supplements such as chewable Vitamin C and multi vitamins are also damaging since they contain enamel-hurting acids that cling to the teeth. This is why you should always brush your teeth after chewing vitamins to minimise such damage.

"Often, consumption of food or drinks results in teeth stains. These stains develop from drinking coffee, tea, wine, or other dark or staining liquids. It's a good idea to rinse or brush your teeth after consuming these liquids to prevent staining," says Sherri Worth, DDS, a reconstructive dentist in Newport Beach, California.

Drinking a lot of water along with a couple of cups of green or black tea while avoiding acidic or sugary food items will further help the cause. If you use all of the above mentioned tricks, you will definitely restore your teeth to their former dazzling glory.