How Do I Keep My Teeth White?

Having a picture-perfect white smile does not come easily. Many of our daily choices can greatly impact the color of our teeth, from the foods we eat to our habits and even our dental hygiene.

If you’re looking for ways to help keep your teeth white, check out these 5 tips from the Chevy Chase cosmetic dentists at Morrison Cosmetic Dentistry:

1. Practice Good Oral Hygiene

One of the best things you can do for your overall oral health is to clean your teeth properly, every single day. This means brushing at least two times a day, for around 2 minutes, and flossing once before bed.

Cleaning your teeth properly can remove food particles and bacteria known to cause cavities and gum disease, but it can also protect the color of your teeth.

2. Avoid Highly Staining Foods

Some foods can change the color of your teeth:

Coffee
Tea
Tomato sauces
Citrus fruits and juices
Berries
Foods with artificial colorings, such as sodas and energy drinks, etc.

It’s important to be mindful of these foods and drinks, especially if you want to keep your teeth whiter. Ideally, you would reduce their consumption to a minimum, and be sure to cleanse your mouth after eating or drinking one of them.

3. Stop Smoking

If you’re a smoker, you will have a harder time keeping your teeth white. Smoking is known to lead to tooth discoloration, on top of all the other negative effects it can have on your health.

4. Get a Professional Dental Cleaning

Even with great at-home oral hygiene, you still won’t be able to remove all food debris and bacteria from your mouth.

Over time, these can lead to tartar and plaque formation, which puts you at risk for gum disease and can even make your teeth look more yellow. Many patients notice that after a professional cleaning, their teeth look whiter, simply because the dentist has removed the plaque and tartar from the teeth.

5. Try Professional Tooth Whitening Kits

Sometimes, even if you’re careful, your teeth may still change their color. Luckily, many effective and safe tooth whitening options can whiten your smile in just a few appointments.

While there are also OTC solutions available, professional dental whitening offers a more customized approach to tooth whitening, as the entire process is carefully supervised by a trained professional.

Not only that, but with professional tooth whitening, you can also get your oral health checked out!

How Morrison Cosmetic Dentistry Can Help

If you’re interested in tooth-whitening solutions, Eric Morrison DDS, MAGD is here to help you make the right choice!

Dr. Morrison’s customized treatment plans can allow you to get the smile you’ve always wanted, both in terms of appearance and help!

Book an appointment with a Chevy Chase dentist now to get started.

Have more questions? Then reach out by calling (301) 637-0719 and let’s have a chat.