Brightening your smile is as easy as visiting your dentist for a whitening treatment, or purchasing one of the many at-home treatment options available. You don't necessarily have to change your habits to whiten your teeth. Simply replacing your regular toothpaste with whitening toothpaste is a great way to start whitening your smile gradually. Using a whitening mouthwash, trying whitening pens, strips or trays are all good ways to supplement your normal oral hygiene habits. If you regularly chew gum after meals, there are some brands of chewing gum that claim to whiten teeth.

BENEFITS

While our teeth are not, by nature, perfectly white, most people feel that they could improve their smile with brighter, whiter teeth. Over time, our teeth acquire extrinsic stains as a result of eating and drinking certain foods and beverages. They also yellow with age, as a result of acquiring pigmentation inside the teeth. There are various ways to safely remove the extrinsic stains and the intrinsic yellowing, leaving a whiter, more radiant smile.

CARE

Practicing good oral hygiene is essential for anyone who wants whiter teeth. Brushing, flossing and using mouthwash are all great ways to take care of your teeth and help prevent stains from forming.

Flossing teeth at least once a day can help remove dental plaque that has built up.

It is important to wait at least 30 minutes before brushing, after eating and drinking acidic foods. Acids weaken tooth enamel and brushing teeth when enamel is in its weakened state can damage teeth.

The ADA also says that certain foods like apples, pears, celery, carrots, cauliflower and cucumbers can actually help keep teeth cleaner and eliminate bacteria. Adding these foods into your diet can help keep teeth white.