4 Ways to Brighten Your Smile Naturally
Approximately 32% of people say they’re concerned by the look of their teeth, and there’s no surprise why. Despite the fact that the appearance of your teeth doesn’t mean anything about who you are, many of us find bright, straight teeth more attractive. As a result, stained or off-white teeth can take a toll on our confidence and leave us turning to chemical treatments to try and brighten our smiles.
The good news is that there are a few ways you can whiten your teeth without having to go through a professional whitening procedure. Here are a few tips you can use to brighten your smile naturally.
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Brush your teeth the right way
It’s a no-brainer that the American Dental Association recommends brushing twice a day, but one in 10 people admit that they regularly forget to brush their teeth. Even worse, the average time people wait to get professional teeth cleaning is three years. Needless to say, a regular dental routine is your first step toward brightening your smile.
When you don’t brush your teeth at least once every 12 hours, it gives the plaque a chance to build upon your teeth. Plaque is a biofilm of bacteria and fungi that grows in your mouth. After 24 hours, plaque turns into tartar, which shows up as pale yellow or brown on your teeth. Brushing and flossing regularly helps to remove plaque before it turns into tartar, and seeing your dentist once every six months helps to keep tartar off your teeth before it can cause cavities.
Rinse your mouth with water after drinking dark beverages
During the winter months, nothing goes down better than a hot cup of coffee or tea. Then, after 5 PM, you can indulge in a glass of wine or a dark lager to help keep the winter chill away. However, the problem with these indulgences is that can stain your teeth over time. This is because the surface of your teeth is porous, meaning just like a sponge they suck up the dark-colored beverages you like to enjoy. If cutting back on your morning coffee sounds like a nightmare, consider swishing water around in your mouth after you’ve finished your drink. This helps to keep darker beverages from settling on the surface of your teeth where they can discolor your smile.
Eat some of your favorite fruits
The fruit isn’t just healthy. It’s also great for your teeth. Apples stimulate your mouth’s alkaline saliva flow, which helps to neutralize the acids that are produced by the bacteria in your mouth. This helps to fight back against cavities and general tooth decay. The malic acid found in strawberries is also said to help remove tooth discoloration.
Brush your teeth with baking soda formulas
When you’re looking for a new tube of toothpaste, consider making the switch to a paste that has baking soda in its formula. Baking soda has natural whitening properties that can help to gently scrub away surface stains on your teeth. This is why it’s a popular ingredient in many different types of toothpaste. What’s more, baking soda also helps to fight back against cavity-causing bacteria in your mouth. Baking soda creates an alkaline environment in your mouth when you use it, which helps to keep bad bacteria from growing.
Brightening your smile is a great way to boost your confidence, but you don’t need to use chemical treatments to achieve brighter teeth. By following the tips above, you can give yourself a brighter smile with natural ingredients and techniques.
