Want brighter, whiter teeth?

Have your pearly whites lost their lustre due to teeth stains? Stained teeth can occur naturally as we age, but some common foods, drinks and even mouthwashes can cause teeth stains. Do-it-yourself remedies can help whiten teeth and avoiding substances that stain teeth can stop further discolouration. Use these secrets to whiter teeth to restore your bright smile.

Do-It-yourself teeth whitening

You may be able to get rid of superficial teeth stains by yourself. A number of at-home teeth whitening products - kits, strips and toothpastes - may lighten stains. There are even some old-fashioned remedies you can try. Tooth whitening products available on pharmacy shelves use mild bleaching to brighten yellow teeth. Toothpastes use abrasives and chemicals to remove surface stains. For deep stains, you may need a dentist's help.

Teeth whitening kits

A home tooth whitening kit contains peroxides, bleaches that can remove both deep and surface stains and actually changes your natural tooth colour. If you have coffee-stained teeth, a tooth-bleaching kit can help. With some kits, you apply a peroxide-based gel. In other kits, the gel is in a tray that moulds to the teeth. However, the British Dental Association cautions against trying to whiten teeth yourself with kits from the chemist or the Internet. Instead it recommends treatment should be carried out under the supervision of your dentist.

Home whitening strips

Tooth whitening strips will help get rid of tooth stains. These strips are very thin, virtually invisible - and are coated with a peroxide-based whitening gel. You wear them a few minutes daily for a week or more. Results are visible in just a few days, and last at least a year. The results with strips are not as dramatic as with teeth whitening kits, but the strips are easy to use.

Teeth-whitening toothpastes

How to get stains off your teeth? Over-the-counter toothpastes, gels and liquids help remove surface stains. Many of these products contain mild abrasives, chemicals or polishing agents. Unlike bleaches, they don't change the colour of teeth. But if you want teeth bleaching action in your toothpaste, you can have that, too. Some whitening toothpastes work with peroxide and baking soda - whitening teeth through mild bleaching.

Home remedies for whiter teeth

Some people still prefer the age-old home remedy of baking soda and a toothbrush to gently whiten teeth at home. Also, some foods such as celery, apples, pears and carrots trigger lots of saliva, which helps wash away food debris on your teeth. Chewing sugar free gum also triggers saliva, which helps eliminate teeth stains. A bonus from all that saliva is that it neutralises acid that causes tooth decay. With teeth, more saliva is better all around.

Tooth whitening and dental work

Approach tooth whitening with caution if you have lots of dental veneers, bonding, fillings, crowns and bridges. Bleach will not lighten these manufactured teeth – meaning they will stand out among your newly whitened natural teeth. To match your new tooth shade, you may need to investigate new dental work, including veneers or bonding. This can be expensive.

Preventing teeth stains

As we age, the outer layer of tooth enamel wears away. The underlying layer, called dentin, is more yellow. That's why it's important to avoid teeth stains in the first place, especially after whitening. If you take care with foods and drinks that cause tooth discolouration, the results of teeth whitening may last up to one year. Whitening teeth too often could make them look translucent and blue - so you'll want to maintain your new smile.

To keep teeth white, don’t light up

Not only is it bad for your health, smoking is one of the worst offenders when it comes to teeth stains. Tobacco causes brown stains that penetrate the groves and pits of tooth enamel. These can be hard to remove by brushing alone. The longer you smoke, the more entrenched the stains become. Smoking also causes bad breath and gingivitis (gum disease), and increases risk of oral cancers.

Foods that cause teeth stains

There's another reason to watch what you eat: some common foods can cause tooth discolouration. Here's an easy way to tell if a food might be at fault: anything that can stain a white cotton t-shirt can stain teeth, say dentists. Coffee stains teeth, for example. Other top offenders are beverages such as tea, dark fizzy drinks and fruit juices. These teeth stains develop slowly and become more noticeable as we age.

Think as you drink

They may be packed with disease-fighting antioxidants but a glass of red wine, cranberry juice or grape juice also stain teeth easily. That doesn't mean you should give them up, but remember to brush or rinse your mouth after you drink. These aren't the only teeth-staining foods to be aware of...

More foods that stain teeth

The deep colour of these fruits and veg give them their nutritional punch. But blueberries, blackberries and beetroot leave their colour on teeth as well. Eat up for your health and prevent tooth stains by:

• Brushing teeth an hour after eating.
• Rinsing your mouth with water.

Sports drinks tough on teeth?

While all sweetened drinks are bad for teeth, some energy and sports drinks may be worse, according to one study in the US publication General Dentistry. Researchers found that these drinks - as well as bottled lemonade - may erode tooth enamel after long-term use. The result is thin, translucent, discoloured teeth. To prevent tooth erosion:

• Don't sit and sip these drinks for a long time.
• Rinse your mouth with water when you’ve finished drinking. 

Medications that can stain teeth

The antibiotic tetracycline cause grey teeth in children whose teeth are still developing. Antibacterial mouthwashes that contain chlorhexidine or cetylpyridinium chloride can also stain teeth. Some antihistamines, antipsychotic drugs and blood pressure medications cause tooth stains, as can iron and too much fluoride. If bleaching doesn't help, ask your dentist about dental bonding, in which a tooth-coloured material is applied to teeth.  

Don’t forget daily maintenance

One simple strategy can help maintain white teeth: brush. Brush at least twice and floss at least once daily. Even better, brush an hour after every meal. Brushing helps prevent tooth stains and yellow teeth, especially at the gum line. For best results, try a powered toothbrush. Both electric and sonic toothbrushes may be superior to traditional toothbrushes in removing plaque and surface stains on teeth.

Open wide and say "whiter teeth!"

See your dentist for regular checkups and a hygienist for professional cleaning. The abrasion and polishing methods they use can remove most teeth stains caused by food and tobacco.

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