Improving The Whiteness Of Your Smile

27 September 2019
 Categories: Dentist, Blog


If your teeth are discolored, you may be looking for ways to whiten them. Here are a few measures that you can take to help improve the whiteness of your smile..

Rinse After Consuming Dark Foods and Drinks

Foods and beverages that are dark in color can stain your teeth, especially if ingested regularly. The pigments that give the items their color can become trapped in the pores of the tooth enamel. As the colorants accumulate, the teeth become increasingly stained. 

To help dilute the pigments before they build up on the teeth, rinse the mouth thoroughly with water immediately after consuming a deeply hued item. Less discoloration will result.

Receive Professional Teeth-whitening Services

A cosmetic dentist can apply professional-grade whitening products to the teeth to bleach away accumulated stains. The products, which typically use peroxide as an active ingredient, are placed on the surface of the teeth for a prescribed period before they are rinsed away. Additionally, the dentist may expose the coated teeth to a bright light before rinsing to enhance the whitening effects of the product. 

During the application, the dental professional is careful to apply the product only to the teeth. Sensitive gingival tissues may become inflamed from prolonged direct contact with whitening solutions.

The effects of a professional whitening service may be noticeable after a single application. In some cases, one visit can improve the whiteness of the teeth by several shades.

Use Whitening Toothpaste

Whitening toothpaste includes polishing agents, such as sodium bicarbonate and titanium dioxide, to help polish surface stains from the teeth. The paste is helpful at preventing additional staining. However, a whitening toothpaste does not remove deeply embedded discoloration.

To receive the benefits of the toothpaste, brush with the product as you would with non-whitening toothpaste. Nevertheless, be sure to avoid brushing immediately after consuming an acidic substance since the teeth remain in a softened state for a few minutes after acid exposure. The abrasiveness of the whitening paste could cause enamel erosion if the toothpaste is applied to softened tooth material..

Receive Dental Veneers

Dental veneers whiten the teeth by concealing any discoloration. The tooth-shaped devices are thin slivers of porcelain or resin that are bonded to the front of the teeth.

After a veneer application, the teeth appear white and uniform.

To learn more ways to achieve a whiter smile, schedule an appointment with a cosmetic dentist in your local area.


Share