How Do I Keep My Teeth White?

How do you keep the old pearly whites pearly white? Here are five great tips for maintaining a brilliant smile!

Most of us have looked in the mirror at some point and examined our smiles. With so many advertisements and products reminding us that we need to have bright white smiles, it’s hard not to worry about what the color of our teeth says to the world. If you’ve ever asked “how do I keep my teeth white, and what does that mean for my life?” you’re not alone. As dentists, and as people who love teeth, the doctors at Penn Dental Family Practice are committed to making sure your smile is its brightest.

White Teeth: The Facts

While bright white teeth may be the image we all aspire to, it’s important to remember that teeth naturally have a wide range of colors. Though discoloring is sometimes caused by disease or poor oral hygiene, often it is the result of food or beverage choices, or even just the natural aging of the tooth. With that in mind, here are some tips for keeping your teeth healthy and bright.

How Do I Keep My Teeth White? 5 Tips

1. Practice good oral hygiene. The best way to keep your teeth white is always to practice good oral hygiene. Brushing twice a day and flossing regularly are integral to the health of your teeth and gums. When your teeth or gums become diseased, yellowing or other discoloration can be the result. Following your dentist’s recommendations for oral health is the best answer to the question “how do I keep my teeth white?”

2. Avoid staining foods and beverages. How do I keep my teeth white? One important factor is what you eat and drink. Some foods and beverages can stain your teeth more than others. These include coffee, tea, cola, red wine, and some berries. If avoiding these foods and beverages completely is not an option, try to limit the time you spend consuming them, and rinsing your mouth immediately afterward. For instance, instead of sipping coffee or tea over the course of a day, consider consciously making time to drink a cup, and rinsing your mouth when you’ve finished.

3. Don’t use tobacco. It’s commonly understood that tobacco use can be bad for your lungs, but did you know that it’s bad for your mouth as well? Whether you smoke or chew, the use of tobacco products causes both poor oral health and significant staining and yellowing of teeth.

4. Protect your teeth from trauma. Trauma from injuries and impacts can change the color of your teeth. While you can’t prevent all accidents, you can take precautions when you know you’re vulnerable to impacts. Always wear a mouth guard or other oral protection when engaging in high impact activities, in order to prevent injury to your teeth.

5. Avoid excessive ingestion of fluoride. It may seem counter-intuitive, but too much fluoride can actually discolor your teeth. This is why dentists and toothpaste manufacturers alike instruct you to spit out your toothpaste rather than swallow it. Fluoride is integral in the strengthening and maintaining of tooth enamel. However, if you take in too much, particularly by swallowing fluoridated toothpaste and mouthwash, you risk tooth discoloration. Fortunately this is easy to prevent. Just remember not to swallow when you brush.

Getting Whiter Teeth

Though you may be asking “how do I keep my teeth white,” you may also be wondering “how do I make my teeth whiter?” Tooth whitening has become a common procedure, with many options available. Whitening toothpastes work on surface stains, while at home bleaching and in office tooth whitening work on changing the actual color of the tooth. If you’re looking for a way to whiten your teeth, the doctors at Penn Dental Family Practice can help. Reach out to us for more information at 215-898-PDFP.