Your teeth aren't just there to help you chew food - they're also a crucial part of your appearance. If you have stained or even yellowing teeth, it can quickly ruin an otherwise pretty smile. As we grow older, our teeth can become less white thanks to the foods that we eat, liquids we drink and lifestyle choices such as smoking. Thankfully, there are a number of simple things that you can do to help maintain gleaming pearly whites and ensure that you have a smile to die for.
Regular Dentist Visits
Going to the dentist is one thing that a large number of people tend to put off, largely due to fear and anxiety about being in the dentist chair. However, skipping dental appointments can cause you to miss any problems with your teeth, especially ones that are hard to spot by yourself because they don't cause much pain. Going to the dentist can help you to keep on top of your oral care and make sure that you're following the right routine. You can also ask your dentist to professionally clean your teeth or give you a whitening treatment.
Watch Your Diet
Your weight and fitness isn't the only thing that your diet can have a huge effect on; it also plays a large part in the whiteness of your teeth. Certain foods and drinks such as gravy, red wine and coffee all have a large potential to stain teeth. In general, the darker the food or drink, the more likely it is to stain your teeth. If you're a big coffee-drinker, cutting down can help you to see an improvement. Drinking through a straw can also help your teeth to stay white. Other foods, such as some vegetables, can actually help to whiten your teeth and improve their health.
Chew Gum
Along with brushing and flossing daily, chewing certain dental gums can help your teeth to shine. If you're out and about and don't have access to a toothbrush and toothpaste, popping a piece of dental gum into your mouth can help clean the food particles away as well as helping to refresh your mouth and freshen your breath.
Drink Water
Drinking water is vital to overall health, and in general you should be aiming to drink at least eight glasses a day. This will not only help to clean any food particles away from around your teeth and help to reduce stains, you'll also feel significantly more energetic and you may begin to notice changes in your weight along with healthier hair, skin and nails.
Floss Daily
Most people remember to brush their teeth every day, but do you always remember to floss? Flossing your teeth is vital to keeping them clean and white as it helps to remove any food or plaque which is building up between the teeth in areas that toothbrushes find difficult to reach. As well as flossing daily, up your oral hygiene routine by investing in an electric toothbrush.
How do you make sure your pearly whites stay white? Let us know in the comments.
