8 Ways to Keep Your Teeth White and Bright

It seems like all superstar celebrities need bright white smiles for their occupation, but what about other people? Turns out everyone can benefit from a beautiful white smile. It has a direct effect on successful interpersonal interactions, both business and professional. For example, a bright smile could improve your chances of landing your dream job or getting a girlfriend. A beautiful smile is inviting, contagious and persuasive. Also, the very act of smiling, moving your facial muscles to smile, releases endorphins and makes you feel better. According to a study titled “The Impact of Whiter Teeth on Key First Impressions,” people with whiter teeth are:rn58 percent more likely to get a job offer;rn53 percent more likely to receive higher salary offers;rnViewed as more confident by 61 percent;rnSeen as more professional by 65 percent;rnThought of as more trustworthy by 52 percent. Here are ways to keep your teeth white and bright 1.Go for Professional Teeth Whitening You can restore a brighter look to your smile in just 45-minutes. However, even professional grade teeth whitening will not work on all dental stains. To see if you are a candidate you need to check with a dallas dentist. 2.See Your Dentist Regularly Some people only visit the dentist when something goes wrong, if they have a chipped tooth, toothache or gum disease. This is no way to take care of those pearly whites. To maintain your smile you must visit the dentist every six months for exams and cleanings. Not only will these regular visits keep you ahead of most dental disease and decay, but will also brighten your smile. During cleanings, dental assistants polish your teeth to help prevent plaque buildup. As an added bonus, polishing also eliminates some extrinsic dental stains. 3.Update Your Toothbrush Change your toothbrush every two or three months. If you want your smile top stay looking and feeling fresh, your toothbrush needs to be sterile and effective. To keep your toothbrush healthy don’t use toothbrush caps. Instead, store it in an upright position and let it dry out completely between uses. Too keep viruses and infection from spreading, you should also make sure it does not touch someone else’s toothbrush. Before and after use, shake your toothbrush vigorously under warm or hot water to kill germs, fungus and bacteria. Throw out your old toothbrush after two or three months. Studies show that normal wear and tear after three months of regular use renders your toothbrush ineffective. It needs to be able to navigate those tricky corners and hard to reach places, but that won’t happen when bristles become damaged or frayed. 4. Drink from a Straw If you do enjoy the occasional coffee or cranberry juice, then just be sure to sip through a straw. This will keep the pigments that tend to seep into the enamel away from your teeth. 5.Go on a White Teeth Diet Red wine, tomato-based sauces, coffee and tea — all these highly pigmented food and drinks are huge contributors to dental staining. Other culprits include dark juices, beets and colas. A good rule of thumb is if these foods would stain a white carpet, they will also stain your teeth. If you want to keep your smile looking great, then you should be eating foods like apples, celery, carrots, spinach and broccoli. They naturally clean your teeth and remove stains. You can also swish your mouth with warm water after eating and brush 20 to 30 minutes after enjoying darker foods and drinks, since brushing right after consuming acidic things can actually damage your teeth more. 6.Chew Sugar Free Gum Saliva is a natural antimicrobial that helps prevent decay. However, as you get older your salivary glands shrink and saliva production goes down. Chewing gum with Xylitol will stimulate the flow of saliva and fight cavities. 7.Don’t Light Up Smoking is bad for your health and is one of the worst offenders when it comes to dental stains. The longer you go without kicking the habit, the more entrenched stains become. Some of the brown stains will penetrate so deep even the dentist may not be able to remove them. Better to just quit altogether, for the sake of your smile and your health. 8. Drink More Water rnEnjoying more tap water serves your smile in a number of ways. It prevents dry mouth and bad breath by increasing saliva production, rinses away food particles and bacteria, and is a great source of fluoride. Drink eight to ten glasses of water per day for optimal oral health and overall wellness.