It’s fair to say that almost everyone would like a whiter smile. White teeth just look cleaner, healthier and more attractive. The team at Overland Park Dentistry wants to help you achieve the smile you want, so we put together this list of simple things you can do to avoid staining your teeth as well as to whiten them.
Put your daily routine to the test with these dos and don’ts.
Tips & Tricks to Avoid Staining Your Teeth
Are you ready for a challenge? One of the first steps to a whiter smile is to keep from staining your teeth further. From what we eat, to bad habits, there are simple ways to incorporate good habits into your daily routine that will keep your teeth whiter. We challenge you to see how many you can adopt.
Avoid These Foods & Drinks – There are several foods/drinks that you should avoid whenever possible. Here is a list of some of the most common teeth-staining culprits:
- Coffee
- Tea
- Red Wine
- Tomato Based Sauces
- Soy Sauce
- Blueberries
Don’t worry, we don’t expect you to quit drinking coffee or enjoying your favorite pastas altogether. Just make sure that whenever you do enjoy these particular foods, brush your teeth afterward, or at least rinse your mouth with water to dilute their darkening effects.
Drink through a Straw – Straws direct the liquid to the back of the mouth which will decrease the amount of contact liquids have with your teeth.
Brush after Every Meal – Not at home? Keep a toothbrush at the office for after-lunch cleaning.
Reduce Smoking – Nicotine and tar in cigarettes stains teeth quickly. In fact, some heavy smokers are left with teeth that appear brown or are falling out, not to mention bad breath. Our best recommendation? Quit. If you are a smoker, it is recommended that you visit your dentist for a thorough cleaning every three to six months.
Related Read: Taking a Look at Bad Breath
Substitute Foods for Toothpaste – If you’re on the go, brushing may not be convenient, but eating crunchy foods like nuts, celery, raw carrots, apples, and cauliflower can help keep your teeth clean by removing surface stains and plaque.
Related Read: Spring Cleaning for Your Mouth
Rinse after Eating Citrus – While vitamin C is good for the body, fruits that contain them are not good for tooth enamel. The acid will erode it and make your teeth more susceptible to staining. Simply rinse your mouth with water after eating these and other highly acidic foods.
Eat Dairy Products – Foods high in calcium, like cheese and yogurt help keep your teeth white. Dairy products provide calcium to keep your teeth strong, and harder cheeses can actually eliminate food particles that could stain your teeth.
Switch to a Whitening Toothpaste – Simply switching what you’re using to brush your teeth, instead of changing your behavior, is one of the easiest ways to keep your teeth white. This will provide a little bit of maintenance every day to combat staining. Be sure to look for the ADA seal of approval!
