Do you miss smiling confidently like when you were young? Perhaps your pearly white teeth have lost their whiteness to brownish-yellow stains? Don’t worry. We’ve got you! Stained teeth usually occur as human beings age. Common foods, drinks, and even cigarettes can also contribute to teeth staining. Fortunately, there are trusted remedies that can whiten your teeth and bring back your white, shiny smile. Try these hacks. 

Brush your teeth the right way

Your first course of action is simple and inexpensive – brush your teeth more often and in the proper manner. However, it is even more vital that you brush after downing drinks and foods that can lead to teeth staining. Whitening toothpaste contains polishing agents, mild abrasives, and chemicals that scrub the teeth to remove the surface stain but are gentle enough to be safe. In addition, they don’t alter the natural color of your teeth like bleaches. 

Dental professionals at advancedwhitening.com.au have also recommended using an electric toothbrush – it is more effective in removing surface stains. Brush your teeth at least twice each day for three minutes at a time. First, ensure you get into all of the crevices and cracks of your mouth. Next, brush gently in a circular motion to ensure you don’t hurt your gums. Next, brush the outsides, insides, and chewing surfaces of your teeth. Brushing with a whitening toothpaste has been scientifically shown to whiten your teeth.

A mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide does magic.

A paste made of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda removes bacteria, and plaque buildup quickly rids your teeth of stains. All you need to do is mix two tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide and a tablespoon of baking soda to make a paste. Then, wash your mouth carefully with water after brushing with this paste. You can also apply the same proportion of ingredients to make a proper mouthwash. Or, you can try just baking soda with water. A 2012 study found that people who used a paste containing baking soda and peroxide experienced substantial improvements in teeth whitening after six weeks. In addition, researchers reported on baking soda. They concluded that a mixture of baking soda and peroxide is effective and safe for removing tooth stains and whitening teeth and can be used every day.

Clinical Tooth Whitening and Dental Work

Be careful here. If you have lots of crowns, dental veneers, fillings, bonding, and bridges, clinical teeth whitening may not be for you. This is because whitening chemicals will not whiten artificial teeth. This means that the artificial teeth will look different from your newly whitened natural teeth. And you may not like it. Consult a dental surgeon for bespoke advice.

Eat vegetables and fruits with higher water content.

When you habitually eat fresh fruits and vegetables with high water content, they help keep your teeth in good shape. The water content is believed to cleanse your teeth and rinse off embedded plaque and bacteria that lead to stained teeth. Also, munching on brittle fruits and vegetables as a dessert helps to increase saliva production. This, in turn, helps to get rid of food remnants that are stuck in your teeth and wash away any dangerous acids.

Generally, a diet high in fruits and vegetables is suitable for your dental and overall health. However, a review published in 2019 found that Vitamin C deficiency can increase the severity of periodontitis – gum infection. While the study didn’t precisely address the whitening effect of Vitamin C on teeth, it suggests that high levels of Vitamin C can reduce the amount of plaque in your teeth. Plaques are known to cause stains on teeth.

Furthermore, in 2012 it was discovered that a toothpaste containing extracts from bromelain and papain showed effective stain removal. Bromelain is an enzyme found in pineapple, while papain is found in papaya. Papaya and pineapples are fruits with high water content. 

It is high time you quit smoking.

Not only is smoking detrimental to your health, but it is also one of the proven causes of stained teeth. When you smoke, brown stains infiltrate the pits and grooves of the enamel of your teeth. Tobacco stains are tough. Long-term smoking causes more stains. Hence, the earlier you quit, the better your chances at whitening your teeth. Tobacco also causes gingivitis (gum disease) and halitosis (bad breath).

Whitening Strips

Tooth whitening strips are not as popular as the hack mentioned above, but they are just as effective. These strips are coated with a peroxide-based whitening substance. They are very thin and almost invisible. However, when worn on the teeth as prescribed by a dentist, significant results are seen in just a few days.

We hope you found a remedy that suits your needs. Remember to consider your budget and the primary cause of the teeth stains when making your selection. If these don’t seem to work, please consult a dentist.