Six Secrets to Perfectly White Teeth

Have your teeth become yellowish? Contrary to general opinion, it’s the inner part of the tooth that darkens, not the enamel. The teeth-staining process is induced by age and the consumption of stain causers like coffee, tea, and berries.

Nevertheless, there’s no reason to feel desperate about the look of your smile, given the myriad of natural remedies and whitening products used for making teeth whiter. For instance, Men’s Health covers the best teeth whitening kits of 2021 including strips, gels, and pens.

Have a look at six secrets to perfectly white teeth.

Avoid teeth-staining foods and drinks

The inceptive step towards a brighter smile is avoiding teeth-staining foods, causing extrinsic stains. Although red wine and coffee are infamous for staining the enamel, these aren’t the only ingredients responsible for extrinsic staining.

For instance, individuals should avoid consuming foods such as blueberries, blackberries, pomegranate, curry, paprika, balsamic vinegar, sweets, BBQ sauce, etc. The same goes for drinks like green tea, black tea, white wine, and soda. Nevertheless, giving up favorite foods and beverages isn’t a price many people are willing to pay for having a bright smile.

Therefore, individuals not willing to cease drinking coffee or soda are advised to rinse with water not long after consuming teeth-staining foods and drinks, maximally thirty minutes. Rinsing is considered helpful in removing the liquid from the teeth and preventing it from causing stains. It’s more effective than brushing, as having your teeth brushed after consuming stain causers only intensifies staining, allowing the harmful acids to penetrate the enamel.

Aside from foods and drinks, other lifestyle habits might be causing your teeth to stain. Smoking cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and even chewing tobacco may affect your teeth’s color due to the presence of nicotine and tar. Also, taking certain medications, like tetracycline, for an extended period may impact the calcium deposition in your teeth, resulting in discoloration.

Introduce certain foods to your diet

Apart from avoiding stain causers, introducing certain ingredients to your diet can do wonders for your smile. For instance, using bentonite clay for teeth on a daily basis not only keeps the doctor away but improves gum health as well. Apples are known to induce saliva production, essential in the process of rinsing extrinsic stains away.

Moreover, dairy products such as milk, yoghurt, and cheese contain enough calcium to make teeth look stronger and brighter. Strawberries, unlike other types of berries, are rich in malic acid, which is miraculous when it comes to removing stains. Read here about the numerous health benefits of malic acid.

Veggie lovers, on the other hand, can scrub stains off with broccoli, celery, and carrots. The coarseness of their texture is surprisingly beneficial in stain removal. Ultimately, not many people are familiar with the connection between raw onions and oral health. Onions are abundant in sulfur, which is helpful in plaque prevention.

Take good gum care

Another secret to a whiter smile is taking good care of your gums, not just your teeth. Red or receding gums have a negative effect on one’s smile, like in the case of gingivitis. Brushing and flossing are recommended twice daily for better oral health.

Individuals suffering from sensitive teeth and gums are encouraged to use soft-bristled brushes to prevent abrasion. Also, make sure you brush them as gently as possible. Healthy gums are essential for a bright smile since they play an indispensable role in dental health. Neglecting your gums might lead to periodontitis, which causes tooth loss. In such a case, teeth whitening will no longer seem important.

Gum problems are more common than you think. Since many people give less priority to oral and dental care, gum conditions have become prevalent today. The gingiva, more popularly known as the gums, forms a barrier against harmful substances that may harm the teeth. Thus, neglecting the gums could lead to tooth loss among adults. The six most common gum problems that result from poor gum care are:

Gingivitis: a mild type of gum disease that affects the gum around the base of the teeth

Periodontal disease or periodontitis: a severe gum infection that damages the soft tissue and can eventually destroy the bone supporting your teeth

Gum recession: a condition in which the gums pull back from the tooth surface

Gum abscess: a buildup of pus and bacteria that occurs during a gum infection

Oral cancer: the rarest mouth condition that can form in the gums or other parts of the mouth

Give oil pulling a try

Oil pulling is another secret to a white smile, originating from the country of India. It refers to a mouth-washing method with oils like coconut, sesame, and sunflower oil. This practice is believed to eliminate bacteria, which are responsible for plaque buildup and staining.

Nowadays, coconut oil is considered the best choice for oil pulling due to the high levels of lauric acid. This acid does wonders for bacteria elimination and inflammation relief. In order to try oil pulling, make sure you use a tablespoon of coconut oil by putting it in your mouth and pulling it through your teeth. The process should last between fifteen and twenty minutes in order to provide positive results.

Use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to make toothpaste

The combination of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide is known as one of the most effective natural teeth-whitening remedies. The former uses its whitening properties for stain removal, whereas the latter is highly effective in killing bacteria. Although some people think combining baking soda with hydrogen peroxide is unsafe for teeth whitening, the mixture actually doesn’t cause any harm when used as directed.

In order to make such paste, individuals are supposed to use a tablespoon of baking soda combined with two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide. Mixing both ingredients together results in a paste, which can be used daily. Only by using this paste regularly, one can notice a difference.

In addition, the same ingredients can be used to make mouthwash, only by adding water as an extra ingredient. When using hydrogen peroxide for the purpose of making mouthwash, it’s paramount to dilute it with water. Otherwise, this bleaching agent is likely to cause gum, throat, or tongue irritation.

Use whitening products

Nowadays, individuals are provided with a vast selection of whitening products in the form of toothpaste, strips, trays, and pens. For instance, whitening toothpaste is supposed to be used for at least two weeks in order for users to notice positive results. However, it isn’t designed for the removal of deep stains due to its inability to penetrate the enamel. Look for toothpaste containing blue covarine for a better effect but avoid those containing hydrogen peroxide should you have sensitive teeth.

In contrast, whitening strips are capable of penetrating the enamel, which makes them more effective. These are supposed to be pressed on the teeth and left for half an hour to act during a two-week period. Whitening trays are considered more convenient, as these take the exact form of teeth. Users can wear them while sleeping or for a couple of hours daily.

Ultimately, whitening pens are excellent for preventing stain formation. These are best used after consuming teeth-staining ingredients by applying the gel inside the pen on the teeth. Once the gel becomes dry, use a toothbrush to remove it.