With today’s modern society so obsessed with photographs, selfies photo-bombing and more, it is no surprise that people are turning to the internet for ways to whiten their smiles. Many people are already self-conscious of their smiles, either due to cigarette stains, general bad hygiene or they just have a few wonky teeth. If you want to get a whiter smile, it is important to take good care of your teeth to start with, but there are also a few things you can do to help make your smile a little brighter.
- Brush, Floss, Mouthwash
We start off with the big three, because how can you expect to get a winning smile without first taking good care of your teeth? Electric toothbrushes with a rotating, oscillating head are better for removing more plaque than normal toothbrushes and they also time your brushing sequence so that you know when to stop.
Flossing, although at first a little painful, is essential in ensuring good healthy teeth and gums. Make sure to floss right down to the gums and not just in between the teeth, as food can hide between the teeth and the gums.
To finish it all off and get rid of food particles, mouthwash using a whitening or non-alcoholic mouthwash. You can use a plain mouthwash or a flavoured one, and the lack of alcohol will not kill friendly bacteria which are essential in preventing bad breath.
- Chew Sugar Free Gum
One of the reasons we have saliva is that it plays a major part in keeping our mouths sanitary. As we get older, our saliva glands produce less saliva, however chewing gum helps to stimulate these glands and works in keeping your mouth clean. Sugar free gum is also essential as you don’t have extra harmful additives that damage your teeth.
- Use a straw/hot straw
When drinking anything other than water, it is a good idea to use a straw as this can prevent the teeth from staining. This is particularly the case in caffeinated drinks, although most straws will melt if you try this out! There are specially designed hot straws available for hot tea and coffee which you can use and re-use, which will prevent the caffeine from touching and staining your teeth.
- Add a bit of baking soda
If you want a good abrasive clean of your teeth, try adding a little bit of baking soda to your toothbrush before brushing. The baking soda will react to the saliva in your mouth, effectively removing any surface stains from your teeth, thus making them appear whiter. You can also make a paste out of baking soda and lemon juice, leave it on your teeth for about a minute and then wash off gently, for a more immediate whitening solution. Do not do this too often as the abrasive solution can be harmful to your teeth.
- Cut down on the fizzy drinks and eat crunchy fruits and vegetables
Too much sugar, not enough hydration and now they rot your teeth and affect your smile! When will cola and other fizzy drinks get a break? In order to help solidify your teeth whitening plan, cut down on the fizzy drinks entirely or at least use a straw and eat a nice amount of crunchy fruits and vegetables. These will help to prevent the build-up of stains, and they are also good for you!
So there you have it. Five quick and easy tips that will help you bring your smile back into line, without having to resort to teeth whitening products. However if you are still desperate and nothing else seems to work, teeth whitening solutions are available in short term packages and long term packages to suit all kinds of budgets, you just have to know where to look. We wish you the best of luck in starting to regain your winning smile!
Article provided by Precision Dentistry; a professional aesthetic dentistry practice with a clear focus on creating perfect smiles in Glasgow. Established and managed by BACD member Attiq Rahman, for over twenty years.