Sparkling teeth not only you to talk and chew food, it is also a great confidence booster. Would you be able to laugh heartily or say “cheese” before a photo shoot if you had yellow and stained teeth?
There are two ways that you can have a set of sparkling teeth for life. The first is to use teeth whitening products at first sight of stains or yellowing before they turn to a stubborn and hard-to-remove condition. The second is to follow good lifestyle practices like good food habits and using the right type of toothbrush. Keeping teeth white is big business today with toothpaste and oral hygiene products flooding the market. But if you follow the two factors given here, you will never have to worry about yellow teeth marring your looks and appearance.
Using Teeth Whitening Products
In the past, removing stains from teeth required a visit to the dentist and spending a lot of time and considerable sums of money. This was true for light as well as deep and stubborn stains. But all that has changed now. Browse through the online catalogue of Active Smile or visit a supermarket or pharmacy and you will find a whole range of whitening products with which even old stains can be removed. However, a visit to a dentist cannot be ruled out altogether if your teeth are in terrible shape.
Before you order for any teeth whitening item, you should be aware of the composition and the ingredients. Read the label and instructions carefully before you reach for your wallet.
There are two essential ingredients – hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide that are the primary constituents of ant whitening product and gel. The concentration levels of each have to be understood. For use at home, do not go above 6% for hydrogen peroxide and 35% for carbamide peroxide. Anything more than these can cause damage to the internal tissues, mucous membrane and gums. Dentists use hydrogen peroxide of 10% to remove dark stains, but you should never try that at home.
Here are some of the more common teeth whitening items readily available in the market.
Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder – This product will confound the ordinary person. How can a black powder bring about pearly white teeth and remove stains? The answer lies in the property of charcoal. The molecules of charcoal can absorb toxins and lift them off the surface of the teeth. All that you have to do is take a pinch of the charcoal teeth whitening powder, moisten it to a paste and apply over the teeth and gums in a brushing action. The molecules get to work and absorb the toxins in the stains. After some time, spit out the residue mixed with toxins and rinse the mouth. Results are visible almost immediately though you might have to repeat the process daily for some days to eliminate the darker stains.
Charcoal powder is made from burning coconut at high temperatures and then grinding the charred remains to fine dust. It is a very cost-effective solution with a single small tub of 30gms enough for almost a hundred applications.
Laser Teeth Whitening – A complete laser teeth whitening kit comprises of a mouth whitening tray, a few syringes with the whitening gel and an LED light. A layer of the gel has to be applied on the tray and is to be inserted into the mouth so that the gel is in contact with the teeth and the LED light switched on. The light acts as a catalyst on the carbamide peroxide in the gel and turns it to hydrogen peroxide which is a bleaching agent. The teeth are thus bleached and whitened with the yellowish hue fading away. A beeper sounds after 10 minutes of the tray being inserted in the mouth, and this is a signal that the session is over. Four such procedures can be done one after another in a day with repetitions once every week.
Teeth Whitening Strips – These strips are handy for people with slight discolouration of the teeth. Moreover, the strips are reasonably priced too. A packet contains several plastic strips coated with hydrogen peroxide at less than 6% concentration. These are placed in the mouth with the gel touching the teeth. After about thirty minutes, they can be removed. Usually, if the process is carried out every day for about a couple of weeks, even the most stubborn stains can be removed.
Following Good Lifestyle Habits
Good lifestyle habits will not remove any discolouration of the teeth but you can surely prevent it from happening. You can follow these tips to maintain and keep your teeth in sparkling condition once old stains have been eliminated.
Brush Twice Daily – Brushing your teeth twice a day is necessary to remove food particles that stick to the teeth and gaps. This prevents the growth of bacteria and plaque and stops discolouration and stains.
Eat Fruits – Eating fruits especially the fibrous variety acts like constant brushing of the teeth. Citrus fruits cause the mouth to produce more saliva, thereby continually keeping the teeth clean and white. The same goes for fruits rich in Vitamin C such as kiwi and strawberries which also strengthens the gums. Apple and pears have a water content which activates the formation of saliva and keeps the teeth moist and clean.
Increase Intake of Dairy Products – Dairy products reduce the possibility of gum diseases and keep teeth white. Hard cheddar cheese is more effective than softer cheeses for keeping teeth white and protecting the gums.
Sesame Seeds – Sesame teeth are rich in calcium and thus help to preserve and strengthen the bone around the gums and teeth. It also destroys plaque and builds tooth enamel. Now, this is very important. The enamel on teeth is white. After years of wear and tear, this thins out and the greyish layer below that is dentine comes to the surface. This makes the teeth lose its shine and pearly looks. Once the enamel builds up again, the teeth regain its sparkling appearance, even though the whole process does not happen overnight.
Lemon and Salt Mixture – Brush regularly with mixture of lemon and salt. Lemon contains citric acid and added to salt, removes toxins from the surface leading to sparkling white teeth.
Change Toothbrush Every Two Months – It is essential that you change your toothbrush every two months at least, if not earlier to get the most out of brushing your teeth. Over time, the bristles of the brush become hard, and this leads to faster wear and tear of the surface enamel. It also damages the gums.
Visit the Dentist Periodically – You might be using any number of teeth whitening products, but it is necessary that you visit your dentist at least twice a year. Dental hygiene is vital for having strong and healthy teeth and gums and only a dentist can guide you in this respect.
These are some of the tips you can follow to have a set of pearly sparkling teeth that you can be proud of.