Tips to Keep Your Teeth White

When you smile the first thing that other people see are your teeth. So if your teeth aren’t as white as you would like them, you probably avoid smiling or showing your teeth. White, sparking teeth have become a sign of beauty in today’s society. However, this trend has been along time coming. In ancient Egypt white teeth were a sign of beauty and wealth. Now it is something that everyone desires especially due to the overabundance of food, drinks and bad habits that can stain deteriorate and destroy your teeth. If you are looking to preserve that dazzling smile and keep your teeth white here are a few tips to maintain your pearly whites.

1. Avoid food and drinks that stain your teeth. Red wine, coffee, soda, tea, blueberries, and tomato sauce are all teeth staining food. Most people eat or drink these types of food on a daily basis and overtime will end up with discolored teeth. By opting for a different choice of food or drink you can avoid staining your teeth. In addition the acidity of some of these foods can actually be very harmful to the teeth. Carbonated drinks like soda contain phosphorus, which leach calcium from our teeth. Overtime this leads to weakened teeth and ultimately causes tooth loss. Although, most people are unwilling to give up some of these cherished beverages, drinking through a straw can bypass the front teeth to minimize the affects of staining.


2.  Appropriate oral hygiene is one of the ways to maintain healthy teeth and gums and a bright white smile. Brushing and flossing your teeth at least 2 times a day can eliminate plaque build up and harmful germs that can cause discoloration and tooth decay. It is also recommended to brush your teeth immediately after eating or drinking highly acidic foods and foods that can stain your teeth. Also, using a tooth whitening toothpaste can help to keep your teeth white rather than using a tooth whiting kit or procedure at the dentist.


3. Stop smoking. Regardless of all the other harmful effects that smoking can have on your health, it is just as bad for your teeth. Smoking can discolor your teeth from the nicotine, as well as give you bad breath and cause oral cancer and gum disease. Smoking cigarettes deteriorates the bone of teeth and can cause tooth loss in the long run.


4. Chew your food appropriately. Fruits and vegetables that require a lot of chewing actually act as an abrasive material that scrubs the teeth as you chew. Much like a tooth brush apples, celery, carrots, and cucumbers clean the teeth while being chewed. In addition lettuce, spinach and broccoli can prevent stains by adding a protective film onto teeth after eaten.


5. Stop bad habits such as biting your nails, using your teeth to open things and clenching your teeth. These bad habits can cause unseen damage to your teeth. Teeth are protected by a thin layer of enamel that can be worn away over time through exposure to environment factors. When you bite your nails, try to use your teeth to open a bottle or clench your teeth the enamel can be chipped away, which exposes the soft underlying dentin. This can cause teeth sensitivity and tooth pain. The dentin is more easily damaged than enamel, which can rapidly progress to tooth or gum disease. When you chip away the enamel, your teeth can look uneven.


6. Don’t do drugs. Drugs cannot only cause other side effects within the body and ultimately death but they also can harm your teeth as well. Ecstasy and cocaine are two drugs that can have major effects on the teeth. By spreading cocaine on your gums you are restricting blood, oxygen and nutrients from flowing into the gums and teeth. Gums hold your teeth in place, so by using cocaine you weaken the ability of the gums to hold your teeth in place. Ecstasy users are a different story. Because of the psychedelic effects that ecstasy can have on its users, many end up having muscle spasms and clenching their teeth. This wears away at the enamel and eventually the underlying dentin. 

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