Teeth Whitening Options

One of the most important aspects of your appearance is the look of your teeth. Sometimes, people place a huge focus on their clothing or hairstyle without paying attention to how the color of their teeth may impact how they are perceived. Nevertheless, the color of your teeth does not have to remain the same. There are many different ways to help whiten teeth that appear dark or stained. Here are a few options:

Change Your Diet

Sometimes, brighter teeth can be achieved by a dietary change. Regularly consuming dark foods, such as blackberries, or dark drinks, such as coffee, can result in dental discoloration.

When substances that are deeply pigmented are inside the oral cavity, the pigments become absorbed by the pores of the tooth enamel. These pigments can progressively build up until the teeth are noticeably discolored.

By avoiding darkly colored foods and drinks, you may be able to lessen the amount of discoloration incurred by your teeth. Still, this particular option may be difficult for people with favorite foods that are dark in color. If you find that you're unable to forgo certain dark-colored substances, try rinsing your mouth with water immediately after eating or drinking. This can help dilute the colorants before they cause staining.

Use a Whitening Mouth Rinse

Many people use a mouthwash after brushing and flossing each morning. Some mouth rinses include hydrogen peroxide, which not only helps to disinfect your mouth, but also helps to bleach away dental stains. Mouth rinses that contain hydrogen peroxide are often found in opaque containers because the peroxide may begin to degrade into water when exposed to light. Thus, it may not be difficult to locate them on shelves.

Due to the low concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the solution, you should not expect your teeth to become brighter overnight. However, with continued use, you may notice that your teeth become progressively whiter.

Use a Whitening Gel

You can also purchase whitening products that include a peroxide-based gel to improve the color of your teeth. Many of these products are sold over-the-counter and produce significant results in a relatively short period.

Although the over-the-counter whitening products are not as fast-acting as professional products, they can whiten food-based stains. Be sure to follow the instructions exactly as indicated to avoid problems with dental sensitivity from overuse.

To learn more ways to whiten your teeth, schedule a consultation with a cosmetic dentist in your area.