Caring for oral health may be your top dental priority, but maintaining a bright and beautiful smile is also incredibly important.
When you feel confident about your smile, you feel confident about yourself. But it’s not always easy to keep those teeth shiny and white when so many things out there can cause staining and discoloration.
Fortunately, you can try some easy natural teeth-whitening home remedies that will brighten up your teeth and give you a sense of pride in your smile. Just make sure to stick to methods approved by dental professionals, and speak to your dentist in Atlanta before starting a new oral health care regimen.
Reasons Your Teeth May Be Stained or Discolored
The world is full of things that are constantly threatening the healthy white glow of your teeth. Some are easily avoidable, while others are beyond your control. Here are some of the most common culprits for tooth stains or discoloration:
Certain Foods
Many foods contain dark pigments that can soak into your teeth and cause them to lose their luster. For example, dark-colored fruits such as blueberries and blackberries may be full of nutrients, but they’re also liable to cause significant tooth staining.
Tomato sauce, soy sauce, and balsamic vinegar are some examples of stain-causing foods to be wary of.
Certain Drinks
Liquids are much more likely to stain than solids, which means that the list of drinks that threaten the whiteness of your smile is relatively lengthy. Red wine is a major culprit, but so are dark sodas, coffee, tea, and fruit juices.
Smoking and Chewing Tobacco
Tobacco can take away the healthy glow of your smile in a hurry, whether you’re smoking it or chewing it. Of course, there are many other reasons why you should avoid this habit, but anyone who values a bright white smile is likely to place this one high on their list.
Certain Medications
Tooth discoloration is an unfortunate side effect of a few different types of medication, including blood pressure medications, antihistamines, chemotherapy drugs, and certain antipsychotics.
Unfortunately, the discoloration will likely continue as long as these meds are taken.
Poor Dental Health and Hygiene
One of the biggest reasons someone may have less-than-white teeth is a lack of oral hygiene. Even if you enjoy eating and drinking things that cause staining, you can combat their effects by brushing your teeth twice daily.
If you want to be extra careful, follow this simple tip: Rinse your mouth with water after eating or drinking something known to cause tooth staining.
The Best Teeth Whitening Home Remedies According to Dentists in Atlanta
If you’re looking to brighten your smile and boost your confidence, you can do it from the comfort of your home. Make sure to stick to one of these Atlanta dentist home remedies recommendations to naturally whiten teeth.
Whitening Toothpaste
Numerous toothpaste brands offer products designed to help whiten teeth. These whitening kinds of toothpaste often use hydrogen peroxide (the most common teeth whiteners) or baking soda.
Keep in mind that whitening toothpaste can be mildly abrasive, and overusing them can wear away at the enamel of your teeth, leading to increased sensitivity.
At-Home Whitening Kits
Your dentist in Atlanta likely offers whitening services in their office, but there are also at-home whitening products that can be highly effective at brightening your smile.
These products consist of trays filled with a whitening solution, which you will place in your mouth for a prescribed amount of time. You might need to go through the treatment a few times to get the whiteness you’re looking for.
Something to remember about at-home whitening kits is that you should follow the instructions very closely. Overusing them can wear down tooth enamel, which can lead to increased tooth sensitivity and a greater risk of tooth decay.
Be Safe When Whitening Your Natural Teeth At Home
You might find other at-home natural whitening remedies recommended by strangers on the internet, but you should only go with the ones approved by your professional dentist in Atlanta.
Other whitening methods can be too abrasive, leading to tooth damage or disease. And always make sure to follow instructions carefully, regardless of which whitening method you choose. If you do, your smile will be healthy and bright in no time.