Maintaining Your Pearly Whites: 3 Healthy Ways to Whiten Your Teeth

One of the most common complaints people have about their teeth is that they’re not white enough. While teeth start out white, over time plaque buildup and stains from beverages such as coffee and tea can yellow your teeth, resulting in a lot of self-conscious smiles in photos.

While companies offer various chemical solutions, such as whitening strips and toothpastes, these are often ineffective and use harsh bleaching ingredients to accomplish their claims. Here are three simple ways you can whiten your teeth with products you probably already have at home.

Practice Good Oral Hygiene

The most obvious step to whitening teeth is to practice good oral hygiene. You should always brush at least twice a day for a minimum of two minutes per session. When brushing your teeth, move the toothbrush in a circular motion across the surface of your teeth to prevent over-aggravating your gums.

Make sure you spend an appropriate amount of time on all surfaces of your teeth, including behind the teeth and the molars at the back of your mouth. You should make sure to brush your teeth after eating candy, drinking coffee, or consuming other dyed food or drinks that contribute to teeth yellowing.

However, brushing your teeth immediately after consuming acidic food products such as soda, since the acidic residue leftover on your teeth can strip the teeth of enamel and cause further damage to your teeth. Instead, you should wait for at least a half-hour and drink a glass of water before brushing your teeth.

Don’t forget to disinfect your toothbrush every so often, too. Finally, every six months, be sure to visit us for a regular oral check-up. We will clean your teeth far more effectively than you can at home with a toothbrush, and you can speak to us about whitening solutions if necessary, as well.

Use Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide

A review of research conducted in 2017 found significant evidence that baking soda had a whitening effect on teeth by providing a safe abrasive to scrape down the surface of the teeth with. By combining baking soda with hydrogen peroxide, a common household substance found in first aid kits and medicine cabinets used to disinfect wounds, you can make a homemade toothpaste.

Its gentle with abrasive and disinfecting qualities to strip stains of the surface of your teeth and kill bacteria, which also contribute to teeth yellowing. Just be sure not to swallow the paste, since hydrogen peroxide and baking soda are not meant to be eaten in large quantities or in pure form.

Eat Fruits and Vegetables

Crunchy raw fruits and vegetables such as carrots, apples, and broccoli have been shown to have an abrasive effect on the surface of teeth, scraping off plaque and stains. In addition, enzymes found in pineapples and papayas are said to have a whitening effect on teeth, according to a study conducted in 2012.

The study has not been extensively replicated, however, and research as to whether enzymes found in fruit actually contribute to teeth whitening is scarce. Nonetheless, an excuse to eat more fruits and veggies is always a good thing, right?

Hopefully, with these three easy tips, you can whiten your teeth at home. Of course, the best way to stop teeth yellowing is to stop stains in the first place, so be sure to brush well twice a day and try to avoid dyed food and drinks. Or, if you are interested in learning more about our in-office whitening treatments to help give you a brighter smile, please do not hesitate to contact us today.