Everyone wants to have a beautiful white smile, but not everyone has one. Despite your best efforts, your teeth aren’t quite as bright as you’d like, and home whitening kits haven’t delivered the results you hoped.

So, if you’re looking for that front page, Photoshopped, dazzling smile in real life, how do you go about it? Are there secrets to having white teeth, or is it purely down to cosmetic dental treatments?

Keep regular dental visits

There is no real secret here, but to keep your teeth in the best condition keep visiting your dentist. Regular cleaning, and dental visits, will help to keep your teeth white and in their best condition.

Your dentist will spot problems before they have time to manifest into more serious concerns and if you want to discuss teeth whitening and other treatments they can help.

If you want to find a local dentist for cosmetic treatment then simply Google something like teeth whitening Fulham to bring up results for that area or yours.

Only have professional teeth whitening treatments

You can, and possibly have tried home whitening kits. These home kits are approved and largely safe to use, but the secret to getting really white teeth is to get professional dental treatments.

This is important to remember, as only registered dentists can carry out certain procedures. You might see treatments advertised in salons, but teeth whitening is illegal if not done by a registered dental professional.

Use hydrogen peroxide and whitening toothpaste

Over the pond, The American Dental Association recommends the use of hydrogen peroxide as an ingredient in whiteners. The amount of hydrogen peroxide should be 10% maximum as a higher quantity can destroy enamel.

Hydrogen peroxide can whiten teeth by oxidising, and baking soda is another home remedy for whitening. Indeed, baking soda is often included in toothpaste today for this reason.

Eat calcium-rich foods

Eating large amounts of dairy products can impact health negatively, but if you get the balance right, your teeth will be better for it. Dairy products that are rich in calcium such as cheese and yoghurt will help to strengthen teeth and keep them white.

Stop smoking if you want whiter teeth

Any article on health and beauty will invariably warn the reader to stop smoking, and for good reason. Self-care beauty tips for skin and teeth will always warn of the negative effects of smoking on the body.

Tobacco products stain teeth, and some of the chemicals in cigarettes can actively cause gum disease and tooth decay as well as turn white molars yellow.

Use sugarless gum

One of the secrets to whiter teeth is to eat foods that create more saliva. When your body produces saliva, you will break down acids that cause tooth decay more easily.

Chewing gum is one of the best ways to increase mouth saliva, and if you choose a sugarless type then you won’t have to worry about any cavities. Just make sure you dispose of the gum responsibly.

Other foods that help with keeping teeth white include celery, apples, carrots, and cheese. Although that last one might not help your waistline.

Avoid food and drink that stains teeth

Some secrets to having white teeth don’t involve improvements but work at prevention instead.

If you avoid certain foods then your teeth will stay white and avoid discolouration and staining. The worst offenders are the following:

  • Soy sauce
  • Red wine
  • Coffee
  • Tea
  • Fruit juice
  • Curry
  • Beets
  • Soda

Coffee, wine, and tea contain tannins that can discolour teeth, and curry and even ketchup can stain teeth also.

Floss, brush, then mouthwash

The British Dental Association recommends 2 minutes of brushing twice a day. To keep a complete oral hygiene routine, the recommendation is to floss first, then brush, and then use mouthwash.

The idea is that people will spend less time flossing if they brush first, and thus neglect an important area of dental care. Keeping up with oral hygiene is vital if you want white, healthy teeth.

Have cosmetic treatments

If your teeth aren’t the way you want them to be, and they are discoloured or stained, then there are dental treatments that can fix that. Keeping up with oral hygiene is essential, and avoiding certain foods and cigarettes will help you to keep your teeth whiter. But, sometimes people need a little extra assistance.

Veneers, bonding, and laser whitening can be used to get teeth back to their natural bright white. Once you’ve had your dental treatment, you can follow some of the advice here to keep them that way.

Summary

A number of foods and drinks can stain teeth, and decay can happen by neglecting oral hygiene. One of the best ways to keep your teeth looking their best is to brush and floss regularly, and don’t neglect to visit your dentist for a general check up.