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Some people are born with healthy teeth that naturally stay white throughout their lives. However, if your teeth are stained due to age, your dental hygiene habits, diet, or other factors, you may be wondering how to keep your teeth white and your smile bright. Even if your teeth aren’t discolored, if you’ve had certain cosmetic dentistry procedures, like veneers, maintaining white teeth is a priority.
Keeping your teeth white and clean has proven benefits for your self-confidence, which extends into both your personal and professional life! Penn Dental Family Practice is here to help you reach your goals and maintain white teeth with three easy tips for a brighter smile.
Lasting Teeth Whitening Results: Tips and Tricks
Tip #1: Make White Teeth a Dietary Priority
The food and drinks you enjoy every day can make a big difference in keeping your teeth white. Maintain white teeth by being careful with what you eat. Avoiding or minimizing consumption of certain foods can help prevent stains and make teeth whitening last. Foods and beverages most likely to stain your teeth include:
- Red wine
- Coffee
- Tea
- Berries
- Sodas, popsicles, and candies with dark or artificial colors
- Beets
- Certain spices, such as curry
- Tomato-based sauces and dressings
- Soy sauce and dark kinds of vinegar (such as balsamic or red-wine vinegar)
- Sugary treats
Note that some foods that can contribute to staining, like beets and berries, are actually very healthy, and you may want to include them in your diet. You can still enjoy these foods and keep teeth white by enjoying them in moderation, drinking plenty of water, following good oral hygiene practices, and adding beneficial foods to your diet.
That’s right: eating certain foods not only helps you stay healthy but also tops the list of how to keep your teeth white. The following foods have properties that strengthen teeth and protect against harmful bacteria, which is one way people keep their teeth white:
- Milk and cheese
- Citrus fruits
- Omega-3 rich foods such as fish
- Apples
- Carrots
- Celery
Water is the best liquid you can consume to keep teeth white. However, if you enjoy food or drinks known for producing stains on your teeth, use a straw and rinse your mouth with water afterward. This minimizes how long these substances stay in contact with your teeth, reducing the likelihood they’ll leave a stain.
Tip #2: Practice Good Oral Hygiene
It’s no secret that regular dental hygiene contributes to a healthier, whiter smile. Dentists recommend brushing teeth at least twice a day in 12-hour intervals. Most people typically brush as soon as they get up in the morning and then right before bed. However, also brushing after meals removes debris left behind after eating and maintains white teeth.
And if you ask your dentist how to keep your teeth white, you will probably receive a recommendation to floss daily as well. Flossing is essential to keep your teeth white and make teeth whitening last. In addition to removing debris that can discolor your teeth, flossing every day prevents gum disease, a condition that contributes to tooth discoloration.
Another tip is to avoid mouth-harming chemicals, particularly tobacco products. Chewing tobacco, cigarettes, cigars, and pipes cause severe staining. If you want to avoid yellow, black, or brown stains on your teeth, quit using tobacco. And beyond making yellow teeth white again, quitting tobacco reduces your risk of developing oral (and other) cancers.
Tip #3: Collaborate With a Dental Health Professional
Your family dentist knows your mouth better than anyone. If you’re asking, “How can I make my teeth white fast?” or “How can I make my teeth white again in one day?” a visit to the dentist is essential. Your dentist can make specific recommendations based on your dental health and overall medical history.
If you and your dentist agree that teeth whitening is appropriate, you have many professional treatment options. A safe, professional office whitening procedure may lighten your teeth by up to eight shades in anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours, giving you a bright, healthy-looking smile in one day.
Having your teeth professionally whitened at the dentist’s office does more than give you noticeably whiter teeth and long-lasting results. Your dentist will take measures to protect the surrounding gums from irritation and sensitivity, ensuring your mouth is both healthy and beautiful.
Professional Teeth Whitening at Penn Dental Family Practice
Penn Dental Family Practice is proud to provide affordable teeth whitening to our patients. You can learn more about treatment options here, including some of the best teeth whitening products on the market. To learn more about PDFP and our cosmetic dentistry services, please call our office at 215-898-7337 today.
