Road to Pearly Whites: Everything You Need to Know About Teeth Whitening

The quality of our teeth plays heavily into our sense of self-confidence. Additionally, keeping your teeth in good shape can prevent costly procedures, pain, and gum disease.

It can be pretty disheartening when we notice our pearly whites starting to lose their shine, but there are things you can do to improve the quality and shade of your teeth.

We're going to discuss some of the best teeth whitening methods in this article, also covering some of the key ways that you can manage your teeth to keep them in tip-top shape. Rest assured, there are ways to improve all types of teeth stains.

Let's get started:

You don't always have to get a procedure to improve the color of your teeth. There are some types of teeth stains that are difficult to treat on your own, though. That said, sometimes cosmetic dentistry is the best way to go.

Let's explore some of the methods you can use to keep your smile as bright as ever.

1. Diet

The first measure of defense against stained and unhealthy teeth is to check the quality of your diet.

Some food and drink can cause lasting tooth discoloration. Drinking a lot of coffee, red wine, tea, and sugary sodas can all directly impact the color of your teeth. Further, sugary foods and sodas work to erode your enamel and make your teeth vulnerable to more stains and damages.

Whenever you pop something into your mouth, bacteria start to break down carbs and sugars and turn them into acid. That acid starts to engage with your enamel and break it down.

It's nearly impossible to avoid all sugary foods, though, so our recommendation is to lay off of sodas and candies as much as possible. Whenever possible, opt for foods that are rich in calcium and phosphorous. Additionally, crunchy (not sticky) foods can help to scrub your teeth as you chew and prevent decay.

2. Stop Smoking

Those who quit smoking might start to notice an improvement in their tooth discoloration within the first week or two. Smoking cigarettes or other materials directly changes the color of your teeth. All tobacco products contain tar and nicotine, two things that will leave you with yellowy stains.

There are a million reasons to stop smoking , and smokers typically know them but keep in mind that you'll have a hard time ever keeping your teeth white if you're an active smoker. There's just no way around it.

3. Consistent Oral Hygiene

A regular habit of maintaining your teeth is arguably the most important factor in how white your teeth are. Bacteria nestles itself onto your teeth, between the spaces of your teeth, and into your gums in some instances.

When those bacteria are left to sit and multiply, they break down your enamel and contribute to gum disease. Further, they contribute to plaque and tartar. Tartar leaves significant stains on your teeth and works its way into your gum line.

That's why it's so important to brush and floss nightly and use a mouthwash that suits you. You should also brush every morning. These habits break up bacteria and keep your teeth healthy, white, and coupled with fresh breath.

Paired with healthy dietary habits, a great habit of daily brushing and flossing should keep nasty stains at arm's reach. That said, sometimes you have to work with the professionals to get your teeth back to the shade they once were.

There are certainly some over-the-counter options that you can buy to whiten your teeth. These whiteners typically require you to apply a substance each night and follow a few instructions. They do work, but it's important that you go with an option that your dentist recommends.

Some off-brand whiteners can be damaging to your enamel and cause more problems than solutions. In fact, they can leave white stains on teeth.

Additionally, it's easy to apply whitener more than the recommended amount if you're really excited to see results. That mistake is often what leads to the presence of white stains on teeth.

You do not want to do this, as the recommended application is scientifically tested and any additional use may cause damage to your teeth. So, while over-the-counter methods work and are worth a shot, you may be better off working with your dentist.

The Dentist's Advantage

Making an appointment for some cosmetic dentistry is likely to be an easier, more effective option.

Cosmetic whitening typically requires that the dentist gets an assessment of your current shade of whiteness. Next, you'll get cleaning to ensure that your teeth are free from extra plaque and bacteria that could affect the process.

A few little structures are placed in your mouth to expose your teeth and prevent any of the whitening solution from affecting different parts of your mouth. It's important for the dentists to have clear access to your teeth in order to apply the whitening solution.

Once your teeth are clean and accessible, a dentist will apply the solution. This is typically a carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide solution that gets applied to the surface of your teeth.

That solution is left on your teeth to do its job and gradually whiten the shade of your teeth. This process usually spans about 30 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on the quality of the teeth. In some cases, a laser is required to activate the peroxide in the whitening solution.

You'll be given protective covering so that your eyes aren't exposed to the laser. The process is so effective that you can expect to see an improvement of two to three shades immediately.

That means you'll see a significant difference as soon as you get up from the chair and take a look in the mirror. Pretty great, huh?

It's still important that you take measures to maintain your oral health and eat well, but know that you have the option of this procedure should your teeth ever start to slip into a darker shade.

If you're looking to improve the quality of your teeth or simply learn more about oral health, we're here to help. It's crucial that we all understand how to keep our teeth healthy and know the best teeth whitening methods to use.