How to Get Whiter and Brighter Smiles

Ironically what may be good for the rest of the body may not be good for your teeth. Foods such as tea, red wine, blueberries contain full of antioxidants and are good for health, but they stain the teeth and discolor them, resulting in a yellow tinge on your teeth.

Yellow teeth are a common complaint which prevents a pearly, white smile. The radiance of your smile is dependent to some extent on your age and diet. As you age, the outer dentine of the teeth get worn and this exposes the underlying yellowish dentine. The things you consume such as coffee, tea, cola, wine, berries etc. also hasten the discoloration process. Fortunately, the teeth can be whitened and removing dental stains is easy and inexpensive.
Steps to get a whiter and brighter smile:

* Consult your dentist:

Even if the discoloration is mild, it is wise to consult your dentist before you get any whitening process done. Those who have gray teeth or have dental crowns may not benefit; in fact can aggravate the condition of their teeth, during the whitening process. The Dentist will be able to check and see if the stains are on the surface or intrinsic.
Intrinsic stains which occur inside the tooth could be due to the use of antibiotics during childhood, trauma to the teeth, overexposure to fluoride during teeth formation etc. Intrinsic stains can only be cleaned by a dentist.
Surface stains on the other hand can be removed by using whitening toothpaste, bleaching kits which are available over the counter or even professional cleaning. You should ask your Dentist for advice as to the suitable cleansing agent.

* Whitening Toothpaste:

For light stains, using whitening toothpaste will be of great help. It contains mild abrasives which scrub away the stains as you brush your teeth. It is better to select whitening toothpaste which has the seal of approval of the American Dental Association. They clean the surface of the tooth, but do not change the intrinsic color of the tooth.

* DIY Whitening kits:

You can get the do-it-yourself whitening kits at a pharmacy or order it online. There are different options to choose from and they are:
Gels – you have to paint each tooth individually to get the whitening effect.
Whitening solution – the solution is put into a mouth tray which fits inside your mouth and around your teeth.
Whitening solution – unlike the mouth tray, they are put on plastic strips which stick to your teeth.
The common active ingredient in whitening kits is carbamide peroxide which bleaches the surface stains to remove it. It takes about two to three weeks to produce a noticeably whiter and brighter smile. All whitening products which have the ADA seal of acceptance contain 10% carbamide peroxide. These products have to be used with caution since they do have side effects. Teeth sensitivity and irritation of the gums do occur in some users.

Professional whitening job:

To get faster and better results, get it done professionally at your dentist’s clinic. The dentist may use a higher concentration of peroxide along with a special light or laser. It takes about an hour and the effect is dramatic. However, the process can set you back by several hundred dollars.

Tips for a brighter smile:

Brushing and flossing – regular brushing and flossing will get rid of plaque and prevent the teeth getting stained.
Professional cleaning – get your teeth professionally cleaned by your dentist on a regular basis.
Smoking – by stopping smoking you are eliminating a major cause of yellow stains. The health of your gums improves too.
Diet – avoid coffee, tea and colas. They are the major reasons for stain formation. If you have to drink colas, use a straw. This minimizes contact with the teeth.
Getting a whiter and brighter smile is within everyone’s reach. There is nothing more radiant than seeing a smile through a set of pearly white teeth.