Sometimes our pearly whites can become pearly off-whites or even yellow. Tooth discoloration can happen to anyone, but there are certain habits that can increase our chances. There are lots of products on the market that guarantee whiter teeth, but many are expensive and some aren’t safe.
Fortunately, there are ways to get healthy white teeth naturally.
The Common Culprits
Some of our favorite foods and beverages can give us stains if not used in moderation, such as:
Coffee and dark teas– Both contain ingredients called tannins, which causes color compounds to stick to your teeth and cause stains.
Carbonated drinks – The compounds in dark-colored soda leads to tooth stains. Not only that, but sugar and acids in any soda or energy drink, even clear and diet ones, encourage plaque to produce more acid that attacks tooth enamel. One study even found that drinking large amounts of soda could be as damaging to teeth as illicit drugs.
Pro tip: Using a straw can help minimize the damage.
Curry and tomato sauce – Both are delicious, but cause teeth stains because of their rich colors. Rinse your mouth and brush your teeth after eating to avoid stains.
Blueberries & beets – Blueberries are rich in antioxidants, and beets can help regulate blood pressure, but both have the power to stain teeth, especially beet juice.
How to get Healthy White Teeth Naturally
You don’t have to use expensive and potentially dangerous whitening treatments to get rid of stains. You can ask your dentist about in-office treatments, but there are also natural ways to keep your teeth white.
Brush and floss twice a day – Brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes not only eliminates plaque and cavity-causing bacteria, but brushing and flossing also helps to polish the tooth’s surface, removing stains from the surface and between the teeth.
Visit the dentist – Make an appointment for a professional cleaning and examination twice a year for a whiter smile and to get more advice from your dentist on how to naturally maintain it.
Quit tobacco – Eliminating tobacco, both smoking and chewing, can naturally improve your smile.
Baking soda – Some home remedies call for mixing lemon juice with baking soda, but the acid in the juice can be harmful to your teeth. Mixing it with water is a safer option. The composition of baking soda makes it mildly abrasive and good for removing plaque and stains from teeth safely. That’s why so many whitening toothpastes use it as one of the main ingredients.
Take a teaspoon of baking soda and add just enough water to make a paste.
Place it on your toothbrush and let the mixture work on your teeth for at least 1 minute, then rinse with water.
Be cautious when researching ways to get healthy white teeth naturally. Not all natural remedies have been proven to help. For example, oil pulling is an ancient folk remedy that involves swishing oil around the mouth to “pull” bacteria and stains from the mouth, but the American Dental Association says there’s no scientific research to support those claims.
Practicing a good oral care routine in addition to eating foods and drinks that stain teeth in moderation can keep your pearly whites from turning yellow.
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