A bright smile and a sunny personality is a magnet for most people. If you think you are already good when it comes to the personality department, and the only thing that’s holding you back is having a great smile to go with it, then fret not. Here are six easy ways for you to get that whiter teeth you’ve always dreamt of:

Foods to Put on Your Plate

It's the foods that you put in your mouth that tells how white your teeth it. Certain foods have natural properties that help in keeping your teeth pearly white or in removing stains caused by other foods. Foods and beverage like tea, coffee, and dark colored sodas contain colorants and other ingredients that cannot only stain clothes but which also stain your teeth. Eating the right kind of foods is the natural and more affordable way of solving this problem.

Crunchy fruits and vegetables like pears, celery, cauliflower, carrots, and apples can help clean the teeth and prevent the formation of stains. The natural fiber in fruits and vegetables can help in washing away stain-causing bacteria and food particles with the help of the saliva in the mouth.

A natural way to bleach the teeth is by using apple cider vinegar. It can be mixed with baking soda to make a paste and then use as toothpaste. A mixture of the vinegar and water can also serve as a gargle every day before brushing. Lemon juice is another natural bleaching agent to help whiten the teeth. But when using these ingredients, remember not to use them too often. The acid content of apple cider and lemon juice can harm the enamel of the teeth.

Orange peel contains enzymes that help in removing stains. Mixing this with bay leaves and turning it into paste to brush onto the teeth aids in achieving that brilliant smile. Strawberries are not only tasty but they can also help in effectively removing teeth stains. You can eat them whole or crush strawberries and mix it with baking soda, and apply it to the teeth more than once a week with a toothbrush.

Stop Smoking

Smoking is a strong risk factor for developing periodontal diseases like gum problems, halitosis or bad breath and tooth decay. The toxic chemicals in tobacco smoke stain the teeth and darken the color of the gums. According to numerous studies, smoking results to the formation of plaque, loss of teeth and the development of serious gum problems. As a matter of fact, teeth stains are the last thing smokers would have to worry about.

To delve deeper into the dental and gum problems caused by smoking, tobacco smoke can cause swelling of the gums and weakness of the teeth. Prolonged chain smoking can lead to teeth loss and gum diseases. Plaque, on the other hand, is a common dental problem amongst smokers. Smoking promotes the accumulation of bacteria and the formation of harmful plaque. With the lack of good oral hygiene, bacteria can build up in plaques and in the gums.

Quitting is hard. But the consequences of smoking are even harder to deal with. Every time a person smokes a stick of cigarette, he is putting his health and the health of other people around him on the line. Getting whiter and healthier teeth is just one of the benefits of not smoking.

Avoid Sports Drinks

All artificially sweetened drinks can have serious negative effects to the teeth. But the adverse effects of sports and energy drinks are typically seen through the mouth. This is according to a study published in General Dentistry. Researchers found that sports and energy drinks can result to the erosion of tooth enamel and result to discolored and translucent teeth. Although some people may find it hard to survive without these drinks, the researchers recommend not sipping the drinks for a long time and washing it off the mouth by drinking water – or better yet, avoid these drinks entirely.

Say No to Too Much Alcohol

Alcoholic drinks, like red wine, contain polyphenols that helps in preventing periodontal diseases. But these compounds are also responsible for staining the teeth. The high acidity of red wine and other alcoholic beverages can wear off the enamel of the teeth and expose the yellow dentin beneath it. But it is not advised to brush your teeth after drinking red wine. Rinsing off with warm water is a better option.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

Maintaining a good oral hygiene means brushing your teeth more than twice a day. Use natural toothpastes since these are basically free from unwanted chemicals. I highly recommend using dental products from Dessert Essence. Dental care experts will say that a good brush lasts for no less than 2 minutes. It's also a good advice to use a battery-operated toothbrush if you are always in a hurry and are not doing a thorough job in brushing your teeth manually. But avoid putting too much pressure on your teeth and gums by brushing too much and using hard bristles. This can lead to the formation of grooves on the surface of the teeth and in the roots and lead to gum bleeding.

Remember to floss. Brushing may not be enough especially if you had a heavy meal of meat and other food particles that can get stuck in between your teeth. A toothbrush can miss these areas and having these food debris in your mouth can attract bacteria which can lead to the development of tooth decay and other oral problems.

Finishing off with a natural mouthwash (again, from Dessert Essence) assures that no harmful bacteria and food particles are left in the mouth. It's also a good alternative to brushing in times when your toothbrush is not around, like when you're eating outside or having a dinner at a friend's place. Maintaining good oral hygiene will help make your teeth whiter, healthier and stronger.

Visit Your Dentist Regularly

Tooth and gum problems can happen even before you know it. This can be avoided by regularly visiting your dentist for a general check-up. Getting a thorough prophylaxis will also remove harmful materials from the surface and tight corners of the teeth and gums. A typical dental checkup will include inspection of the gums, teeth and mouth to search for any signs of broken teeth, gum disease, tooth decay and any damage to existing tooth filling. This will help make your teeth whiter.

Sources
stop-smoking-tips.com
webmd.com
health.howstuffworks.com
docshop.com
nicolaiswallner.com
desertessence.com