Nearly all American adults think that having good looking teeth is important to their social life. Approximately 99.7% of us say that, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). We spend about $1.4 billion on products to whiten our teeth every year. Most people who go to a dentist for tooth whitening see a result, Nearly 82.% say they notice a difference. There are things you can do to keep your teeth white in between your visits with the cosmetic dentistry experts.
1. Some foods and beverages stain your teeth, avoid them.
Everyone has heard the phrase, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” That is very apropos here. If you do not stain your teeth, they will stay looking white longer. Maintaining the look you teeth have after that cosmetic dentist has worked on their whiteness can be as simple as not eating or drinking things that stain your teeth.
How do you know what to avoid? General dental care experts say that if a substance can stain your clothing, it can also stain your teeth. Of course, you probably know to avoid coffee, red wine, any dark juices or sodas and tea. In fact, beets and blueberries and any dark fruit like that should also be on the no-no list. Now, it is unrealistic for many people to give up certain things, like coffee. You can do a few things to mitigate the damage such as brushing and rinsing your teeth after drinking it.
Dentin is the substance just under our enamel. As we age, the enamel wears away, showing more and more of the more yellow dentin. Watching what you eat and drink in between whitening sessions or taking the right precautions after eating and drinking will make a difference in your your teeth look.
2. See your dentist every six months as recommended.
Most Americans really do care about how their teeth look and this is one reason that cosmetic dentistry is so popular. This does not mean we all go to the dentist every six months as we are told we should. If you need a dentist, you should find one and get your dental cleanings done on a regular basis. This is another way to keep your pearly whites looking pearly white in between the sessions with the cosmetic dentist.
3. Do not smoke.
There are many, many reasons to quit smoking and keeping your teeth white in between visits to the cosmetic dentistry expert is not the number one reason but it is a very good reason. Few things make your teeth look terrible like smoking. This habit does more than make your teeth yellow, it can turn them brown.
The smoke from the tobacco can get into the grooves and indentations in your tooth enamel. It will deposit brown gunk on your teeth that is really hard to remove. The longer your smoke, the more brown your teeth will get. It is not even close to being possible to remove these stains by brushing or even having professionals clean your teeth. Once your teeth have been stained from smoking, you need professional whitening from cosmetic dentistry experts to get rid of them. Quit smoking to make your teeth look better.
4. Your prescriptions can make your teeth yellow.
There are a wide variety of medications that can impact the color of your teeth. Some blood pressure drugs, vitamin and mineral supplements (iron), too much fluoride, antihistamines and antipsychotic drugs can work on your teeth to change the color. When you are prescribed new medications, ask your doctor if there will be any impact on your teeth and what you can do to prevent that. Bring your medications with you to the dentist, they may also have ideas about this.
5. Brush and floss every day.
Keeping up with your oral hygiene regimen is a good way to keep your teeth looking and feeling great. Use a good rinse as well.
Everyone wants whiter teeth, they make us look and feel younger. With some effort, we can keep our teeth looking great.
