We all want that Hollywood-style smile with white glowing teeth. But, as we age, and by consuming certain foods or drinks, our teeth can get stained and turn 50 shades of grey in all the wrong ways. Sadly, our tooth enamel, the outer whitish layer covering teeth, wears away over time to reveal the dentin underneath which is more yellowish in colour.
Luckily, there are certain procedures and routines you can adopt to slow this process and help restore your teeth to their white luster again. This means you’ll always be ready to flash that killer smile on the red carpet.
Teeth whitening kits
If you’re serious about whitening your teeth, tooth whitening kits will become your best friend. Dentists recommend dentist-dispensed take-home whitening kits because they contain a higher percentage of active ingredients such as carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide (usually up to 45%) as opposed to the 7% usually found in store-bought whitening kits.
Additionally, as is the case with store-bought sports mouth guards, over-the-counter whitening trays are one size fits all and won’t fit your teeth precisely. This could lead to bleach leaks and gum irritation.
Dentist-dispensed take-home whitening kits are created for a perfect toothy fit. Your dentist will take custom moulds of your teeth and create application trays made of flexible plastic that will ensure the active chemicals stay in close contact with the teeth.
Tooth bleaching products are either stored in syringes and added to trays before use, or pre-loaded into the trays. Your dentist can also adjust the bleach concentration if you have sensitive teeth.
Keeping your whitening trays clean
Wait, what? You may wonder why you have to clean your teeth whitening trays since they regularly come into contact with bleach. The answer is that if you don’t clean your whitening trays, build-up of bleach can start to pool in the recesses of your tray, preventing the whitening agent from coming into contact with all of the surface area of your tooth. No one wants spotty teeth!
A common misconception amongst whitening tray wearers is that cleaning your trays with a toothbrush and toothpaste, or even just water, is sufficient. However, washing or rinsing your whitening trays like this is ineffective.
Dr Mark’s HyGenie is a scientifically proven, all-in-one solution to cleaning your whitening trays the right way. It takes less than a minute to thoroughly and hygienically clean and, paired with Dr Mark’s DentalFresh paraben and alcohol-free formulation, you’ve got a pH balanced and fresh tray to wear every time you need it.
Chewing gum
Some sugar-free chewing gums claim to help whiten teeth (and look cool AF while doing it). Although these products can’t actually change the natural colour of your teeth, they may help to minimise further staining on your teeth caused by smoking, or drinking red wine, coffee and black tea.
Chewing also stimulates around 10 times the normal rate of saliva flow because our body is preparing to process food. Increased saliva production neutralizes the acids in your mouth, killing germs, and washes away food particles, helping to keep your teeth clean. Saliva also prevents bad breath, defends against tooth decay and gum disease, protects enamel, and speeds up wound healing. Finally, something that’s cool and recommended by dentists. It’s a yes from us.
Flossing
Apart from sharing the name of a viral dance move, flossing is one of the best things you can do to naturally lighten the appearance of your teeth. Along with brushing your teeth twice a day and rinsing with mouthwash, daily flossing between your teeth can make teeth look whiter and brighter by removing plaque and excess food particles that you may not see in the mirror. It’s also a great way to rid against bad breath.
Avoiding certain foods and drinks
Unsure of what foods or drinks you should be avoiding to keep your teeth looking whiter? Consider that if a food or drink can stain a white carpet, it can likely cause tooth stains, too.
The top offending drinks that may cause tooth stains include coffee, tea, fizzy drinks such as creaming soda, ginger beer and Fanta, fruit juices and red wine. Common foods that may cause tooth stains include blueberries, blackberries and currants, curries, pasta sauce and balsamic vinegar. Our top tip is if you worry about dropping certain foods on the white carpet, you should be concerned that it’s likely to have the same staining effects on your teeth.
We’re definitely not advocating that you give up your penchant for red wine and pasta any time soon, but we recommend brushing your teeth or, at the very least, rinsing out your mouth with water or mouthwash straight after your meal.
For more information about Dr Mark’s HyGenie, visit the products page.
