A healthy mouth often improves self-confidence and ensures that significant dental care isn’t needed. Maintaining a white, radiant smile requires work. You’ll need to be mindful of healthy practices and everything that you choose to eat or drink. However, it doesn’t have to be a burden—familiarize yourself with the following dental care practices so that you stay ahead of any potential problems.
How to Keep Your Teeth White
1. Brush, Floss & Rinse
Nothing can replace the benefits of brushing, flossing, and rinsing. These daily dental care practices will remove stain-causing particles and other debris that can tarnish your smile. More importantly, they’ll combat decay and other serious oral health issues, like cavities, that can ruin your teeth.
Aim to brush and floss at least twice a day. You can rinse throughout the day with water or a dentist-approved solution so that you remove lingering food particles, plaque, and bacteria.
2. Be Mindful of Problematic Foods & Drinks
Certain foods and drinks can stain your teeth and damage your smile. Coffee is one of the most well-known, as it contains tannins that cause your teeth to turn yellow or brown. However, you don’t have to avoid it altogether. Instead, try adding milk to reduce the tannin count, and drink through a straw, so it bypasses your teeth. If you enjoy a glass of red wine, rinse your mouth afterward.
Berries, tomato sauces, curries, and other bright-colored foods will cause stains. Rinse your mouth or brush your teeth after eating so that you wash away any remaining pigments. For further benefits, chew a piece of sugar-free gum after meals to loosen stuck food and promote saliva production. This will create a wash cycle in your mouth to further rinse teeth.
3. Explore New Dental Care Products
There are several holistic ways to whiten teeth. Try brushing with hydrogen peroxide, as this agent kills stain-causing bacteria. You can also use it as a mouthwash before you brush—create a 1.%-3% solution and mix with equal parts water.
Using apple cider vinegar as a mouthwash is another alternative. It can also reduce bacteria and combat staining. Just make sure to use a small amount, as daily exposure may contribute to enamel wear. You can combine it with baking soda, which has natural whitening properties.
Sometimes, professional teeth whitening is needed to remove stains. Dr. Kurt Hulse, Dr. RJ Ochsner and the team at Hulse Dental are committed to helping Onalaska, WI, residents achieve their ideal smile. Dr. Hulse & Dr. Ochsner are backed by over 30 years of dental care experience and provide a broad scope of services. Whether you need cosmetic dentistry care or basic teeth cleaning, they’ll ensure you’re comfortable and receive the comprehensive treatment required. Call (608) 783-1306 to schedule an exam and connect on Facebook for more dental care tips. You can visit the Hulse Dental website to learn more about the practice.