3 Steps to Healthy Pearly Whites

By: Allison Meyer

Have you ever heard someone say, “A smile is the best thing you can wear”?  A beautiful smile evokes self-confidence and even reaps in serious health benefits. However, not everyone has a stunning white smile they feel confident enough to flash. The good news is a pearly white smile can be achieved in just a few steps.

An Ounce of Prevention

Taking care of your mouth is the best way to achieve a healthy, beautiful smile. Preventive care, such as brushing and flossing your teeth daily, can have a massive impact on the overall health and appearance of your mouth.  Daily brushing and flossing is essential to healthy gums and teeth.  According to the American Dental Association, you should brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes with a soft-bristled brush and ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste.  They also recommend flossing at least once a day to achieve optimal oral health and to prevent gum disease and cavities.

Preventive care is not only achieved through daily brushing and flossing, but also through routine cleanings from a dental professional. Ideally, you should visit your dentist twice a year for routine cleanings. They can professionally remove plaque and tarter as well as polish and remove stains from your teeth – presenting you with a healthier, more attractive smile.

Leave it to the Pro’s

There are many home-based kits that offer whiter teeth at less of a cost than going to a dental professional.  However, bargain prices often come with bargain results. At-home products include whitening rinses, toothpaste, gel strips and whitening trays.  Each one has their own advantages and disadvantages. While rinses are easy to use, they are generally ineffective. Toothpastes that are designed to whiten teeth often have mild abrasives that cause some people to develop sensitive teeth. Gel strips must be worn for at least 10 to 20 days to produce the full effect.  Whitening trays can whiten teeth faster, but at-home kits are not custom designed for your mouth, which can lead to rubbing and irritating gums, according to WebMD.

Under a doctor’s supervision, your teeth can be whiter in a matter of days with the help of a safe, painless procedure.  The bleaching products used by a dentist are relatively stronger than the ones offered in at-home products.  Your dentist can also provide custom-made whitening trays that are designed to precisely fit your mouth, thereby reducing the likelihood of rubbing and irritating your gums.

You Are What You Eat

Foods and drinks can have both adverse and desirable effects on the health and appearance of your teeth.  Everyone knows that over-consumption of sugary foods can cause tooth decay. In addition, regularly drinking coffee, tea, red wine and certain sodas can discolor your teeth, according to the AARP.  However, what some may not know is that there are foods that can actually improve the look and quality of your teeth.  Fruits and veggies such as strawberries, apples, carrots, celery, oranges and pineapples have natural teeth whitening features that can take you down the path to a healthier, brighter smile – while you eat! Meanwhile, dairy products including milk, yogurt and cheese, contain lactic acid, which helps to protect teeth against decay, according to the AARP.  These natural remedies are a great way to gradually improve the health of your teeth and deliver a beautiful white smile.