How do you naturally whiten your teeth

Drinking dark liquids like coffee, tea, Cola or red wine regularly is likely to cause extrinsic stains. Dark or highly-pigmented food, such as soya sauce, tomato sauce, balsamic vinegar or turmeric can also contribute to these surface stains. Smoking tobacco is also one of the culprits of stained teeth.

Since they occur on the surface, extrinsic stains are easier to treat than stains occurring deeper in the tooth. Brushing your teeth regularly with a whitening toothpaste that contains mild abrasives or bleaching agents (e.g. hydrogen peroxide) is a commonly-used method of removing these stains. However, whitening toothpastes are limited in their effectiveness, as some people find it hard to remove stubborn stains deeper within the tooth.

Intrinsic stains

Intrinsic teeth stains refer to stains that occur on the inner layer of the teeth, often the dentin. This happens when stain particles penetrate and build up deeper within the tooth. Intrinsic stains may be accompanied by symptoms that correspond with their cause, for example, a decayed tooth may look yellow, brown or even gray.

Here are several possible causes for such discolourations:

• Dental trauma from an accident or fall
• Genetic disorders
• Overexposure to fluoride
• Tetracycline (a type of antibiotic)
• Tooth decay (caries)
• Root canal treatment

Age-related stains

Most elderly adults find that their teeth discolour with age. Age-related teeth stains are a result of a combination of extrinsic and intrinsic stains. As you grow older, your teeth become more brittle, making your teeth prone to discolouration. Furthermore, the outermost layer of teeth enamel erodes over time and exposes the dentin, which naturally turns yellow with age.

How does teeth whitening work?

Since the tooth is semi-permeable, tooth whitening uses safe chemicals, namely hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide, to permeate into the tooth enamel and break up stains into smaller, less visible components. This is how in-office teeth whitening treatments and take-home whitening kits usually work.

Whitening toothpaste, on the other hand, works slightly differently. They often contain a detergent material with particles that act as an abrasive to help physically remove stains on the outer surface of the teeth, without changing the actual teeth colour.

What teeth whitening options are there?

There is a wide range of teeth whitening options today. Here, we’ll explain the professional teeth whitening procedures offered by NTUC Health Denticare.

In-office teeth whitening treatment

In-office teeth whitening is an effective and safe way to get your teeth whitened. During in-office whitening treatments (or chairside teeth whitening), the dentist applies a professionally dispensed whitening gel on your teeth. The gel contains a high concentration of active ingredients and may be accompanied by the use of a light to speed up the action of the whitening agent. As a result, in-office treatments typically take less than an hour and are most likely to deliver reliable and noticeable results.

Take-home whitening kits

While both in-office whitening treatments and take-home kits involve a similar teeth whitening process, take-home whitening kits use whitening gels that are lower in concentration. They need to be applied multiple times for a teeth whitening effect.

The dentist will provide a custom mouth tray and prescription-strength gel kit. You can then easily administer the treatment at home by wearing the gel-filled bleaching tray at home, for 1 to 2 hours a day. Typically, results can be seen after 14 to 21 consecutive days of use. Bleaching trays and whitening gel refills can be purchased from our dental clinics too.

If you’ve been desiring a whiter smile, you’re not alone! Many patients happen to desire brighter smiles and for all of you, we at Short Pump Dental offer our teeth whitening treatment – a quick and simple procedure that’ll make your teeth several shades brighter. While this cosmetic dentistry treatment is an excellent way to whiten your teeth, it won’t last forever as teeth naturally tend to stain and discolor over time. This doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything about it in between visits to your Short Pump dentists though. In fact, there are actually many ways to naturally whiten your teeth on your own as well. For your benefit, we’ve provided you with seven different ways to naturally whiten your teeth.

Eat Strawberries

One of the simplest ways to naturally whiten your teeth is just by eating strawberries. Strawberries contain malic acid, which is a substance that’s capable of both whitening a person’s teeth and removing surface stains that can discolor a person’s teeth. Strawberries can be so effective at whitening teeth that some people even mash them up and use them as a toothpaste to whiten their teeth even further!

Eat Plenty of Fruits and Vegetables

While strawberries are the first food to consider when you want to naturally whiten your teeth, the truth is that just about any kind of fruits and vegetables can be great at whitening your teeth. Fruits and vegetables are natural stain removers as they can increase the mouth’s saliva production, which will help keep teeth clean. Outside of strawberries, the best kind of fruits and vegetables to eat are those that are crunchy (carrots and celery, for example). Their crunchiness will also act as a type of scrubbing agent that will help remove stains.

Brush After You Eat or Drink

Another simple way to whiten your teeth is just to brush your teeth after you eat or drink anything. By doing this, you’ll be able to quickly remove any stains that have been left on your teeth by foods and beverages and keep your teeth as white as possible.

Rinse with Apple Cider Vinegar

Just as eating apples and other fruits and vegetables will help keep your teeth white, rinsing with apple cider will work as well. Rinsing with it will help remove stains and make your teeth whiter, though you’ll want to be careful not to overdo it. Because it’s acidic, rinsing with it too often can wear away at your tooth enamel.

Apply Coconut Oil

This one may sound a bit odd, but it actually works! Coconut oil is a natural teeth whitener and can work wonders for your smile. Simply swish a spoonful of coconut oil between your teeth for about five minutes or add a few drops to your toothbrush and brush it on to attain all the benefits of this great method.

Brush Your Tongue

It may not sound like it would do anything, but brushing your tongue can also actually keep your teeth white. Many people aren’t aware that bacteria that accumulates on the tongue will gradually transfer over to the teeth, sometimes causing them to be stained over time. By brushing your tongue, you’ll be able to limit this potential problem.

Use Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide

This may be a more complex way to whiten your teeth, but it works incredibly well! Baking soda can help get rid of plaque that’s on your teeth while hydrogen peroxide is an antibacterial agent that can whiten your teeth and keep them free of germs. When you mix these two together, you’ll create a paste-like substance. Brush your teeth with this mixture for an excellent and natural way to whiten your teeth.

Come Visit Your Dentists in Short Pump, VA!

If you’d like to schedule an appointment with your Short Pump, VA dentists for a teeth whitening treatment or any of our other great services, please feel free to give us a call at (804) 747-0116. Alternatively, you can fill out our online appointment request form to schedule a visit with us. We can’t wait to see you and give you a whiter and brighter smile!

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