by Jae Curtis
Whether you have your teeth whitened at the dentist's office or at home, it's one way to build your confidence and make you smile. It's important to continue looking after your teeth after a whitening to ensure they stay clean for as long as possible. Here are four teeth whitening tips to ensure your smile stays bright and you stay confident. Whitening Toothpaste Dentist visits are critical to remove the plaque and stains that develop over time, but whitening toothpastes can help the process on a daily basis. Ingredients in products such as Colgate® Total® Advanced Whitening toothpaste can gently scrub the teeth to remove stains, so it's great to use between dentist cleanings and whitenings. If you're looking to whiten teeth at home, the hydrogen peroxide in Colgate® Optic White® White & Radiant can help you achieve that. Crunchy Produce You can't have toothpaste with you all the time. But you can still keep your bright smile intact while away from the bathroom sink. How? According to Prevention magazine, fruits and veggies such as celery, apples and carrots are naturally abrasive, so they can help remove some of the substances that discolor your teeth. Enamel Protection Your smile may not be as bright as you want because of weak enamel. According to the American Dental Association's Mouth Healthy site, enamel is naturally a hard substance, but it cannot repair itself when it breaks down because it doesn't contain any living cells. Once enamel has been affected by oral disease, you can't restore it, and weak enamel can be more susceptible to stains. That's where enamel protection comes in handy. Fluoride found in most toothpastes can actually help strengthen tooth enamel against the wear and tear associated with acidic foods and beverages, meaning fewer stains left on weak enamel. Dairy Products Good news for dairy lovers: The Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center recommends eating foods high in calcium (cheese and yogurt) to help keep your teeth white. Not only do dairy products provide your teeth with the calcium they need to keep enamel strong, but harder cheeses can actually eliminate food particles that stain your teeth. Whitening at home or seeing your dentist for professional treatment are both viable ways to get rid of stains. To help keep it that way between visits, use the above teeth whitening tips, such as eating the right foods and using the right products, to ensure you can put your best smile forward.
This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment.