Many of us enjoy seeing leaves change color this time of year, turning gold, red, and orange. In Alabama it’s fun to trek to spots like Cheaha State Park, DeSoto State Park, and Joe Wheeler State Park to see the show. Color change is a good look for leaves – but not for your smile.
When your teeth look yellow, brown, or orange, they look less healthy and attractive. Fortunately there are ways to help keep your teeth white during the fall and winter – and any time of the year.
Read our dentists’ tips for keeping your smile white. Sometimes, you may need a little professional help to restore the brightness of your smile. We offer several cosmetic dental treatments that can do so.
If you have any questions about our advice to keep your teeth white or would like to schedule a consultation to discuss cosmetic improvements, call Carmichael Dental Care at 334-600-1423.
Keep Your Teeth White With Good Oral Hygiene
We know you may tire of hearing us tell you to brush and floss daily. But it’s the single most important thing you can do to keep your teeth healthy and looking good too. Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. It removes surface staining that can make your teeth look dull and dingy. Plus, it helps keep your teeth free of cavities and gum disease.
Don’t Skip Dental Cleanings
We also recommend seeing us at least once every six months for a professional dental cleaning. We use special equipment and solutions to remove surface stains and keep your teeth white. We also remove plaque and bacteria from areas that are tough to clean at home, which improves the overall health of your mouth. Consider seeing us more often for a whiter and healthier smile.
Modify Your Brushing Habits
Don’t try to scrub stains out by using a hard-bristled toothbrush and/or brushing hard. Hard bristles and too much pressure can actually can cause enamel to wear away. This makes it easier to see the yellow dentin, the layer of your tooth found between the enamel and pulp. When this happens, you will need to get a dental restoration like veneers to restore your teeth’s white appearance.
You can try an electric toothbrush to keep your teeth white. Since it uses more even and sustained pressure while brushing, it may remove more surface stains than manual brushing. You can also use a whitening toothpaste. There are many good ones on the market; we recommend using one with the ADA Seal of Approval.
For a homemade whitening paste, you can mix hydrogen peroxide with baking soda. Because baking soda is an abrasive, don’t use it more than once a week and be careful not to brush too hard.
Avoid Staining Substances to Keep Your Teeth White
Holiday tables contain many staining substances, including:
- Cranberry sauce
- Pie made with berries
- Coffee
- Red wine
- Balsamic vinegar
In general if a substance can stain clothing, it can stain your teeth too. It’s best to avoid these substances as much as possible. Make a less harmful substitution when you can. Choose pumpkin pie instead of blueberry or cherry. Use a salad dressing without balsamic vinegar.
Still, we don’t expect you to completely avoid special holiday treats. Swish your mouth with water periodically during your mouth. Brush after eating if you can, or rinse your mouth thoroughly with water.
Check Out Professional Teeth Whitening Options
You can receive a professional teeth whitening treatment in our office, or we can provide you with professional supplies to use at home. If you whiten at home, we’ll make custom whitening trays for you using impressions of your teeth. The trays make it easy to completely cover your teeth, so you’ll get the best results.
Some stains simply don’t respond to whitening treatments. If your enamel has thinned, due to age or other reasons, you may need a treatment to cover the discoloration. You can choose:
- Dental Veneers – We securely attach these custom-made porcelain restorations to the front surfaces of your teeth. They’ll hide stains and other imperfections too, like chips, gaps, and worn-down teeth. Since porcelain is so durable, you can expect them to last at least a decade with proper care.
- Dental Bonding – This treatment is more affordable than veneers but won’t last as long. One of our dentists will apply thin layers of tooth-colored resin (the same material used in fillings) to your teeth to cover discoloration before “curing” it with a special light.
Keep your teeth white with our help! Call us at 334-600-1423 for dental cleanings, professional teeth whitening, or other services.