How to Whiten Teeth for a Brighter Smile

How to brighten up your smile

Looking for more ways to brighten your smile before you snap your next selfie?

Having a regular daily oral hygiene routine is a good first step. There are whitening strips and special toothpastes available. Most dentists also offer bleaching treatments, but these can be costly and need to be done several times a year.

Don’t worry, we have some teeth-whitening tips in addition to brushing that won’t drain your bank account.

Stained teeth? Change your diet.

Reduce your intake of drinks and foods that can stain your teeth. Coffee and cola are the biggest baddies. Other staining culprits include tea, red wine, grape juice, berries and spaghetti sauces.

The acid in those foods and drinks attacks the enamel, which is the outer protective layer of teeth that keeps them white. So, drink or eat them in moderation.

Also, if you’re still smoking, stop. It’s turning your teeth yellow.

Stain-fighting strategies

For those who can’t start the day without caffeine, it can be difficult to reduce your intake. Good news: There are measures you can take to defend against the foods and drinks darkening your dazzling smile.

For example, drink water in between each sip of your drink. It will help wash away the staining substance. And drink through a straw to reduce your teeth’s exposure to the liquid. Also, why not change up your routine and brush your teeth after your morning coffee?

There are also foods that can help prevent staining:

• Fibre-rich produce like apples, carrots, celery, broccoli and cauliflower increase saliva production, which helps break down stains.
• Those same foods, when eaten raw, are firm and crisp, which means they help clean your teeth when you eat them. Make them one of the last things you eat so they can do their work.
• Seeds and nuts can also help. Their crunchy texture acts as exfoliants that can buff away discolouration.
• Cheese whitens teeth because it contains lactic acid, which helps dissolve superficial stains.
• Strawberries, despite their bright red colour, have plenty of malic acid, which is a tooth-whitening agent.

Up your brushing game

The American Dental Association recommends brushing your teeth for two minutes, twice a day. But if you want to guard against staining from the food and drink you consume all day long, you should do it more often.

Start by brushing immediately after you eat, especially if you are eating the foods and beverages that are the usual suspects when it comes to staining.

Using a toothpaste that can help whiten teeth, such as the GLISTER Multi-Action Toothpaste. Used with the GLISTER Multi-Action Toothbrush, it helps to remove surface stains and yellowing.

Flossing also helps remove plaque, which can attract stains. Choose one that slides easily between your teeth like the GLISTER Multi-Action Dental Floss, which has a flat, ribbon shape and is coated with naturally derived wax.

Don’t forget a mouth rinse, like the GLISTER Multi-Action Oral Rinse. It kills plaque-causing bacteria and the blast of minty freshness will make your breath fresh and clean. The GLISTER Mint Refresher Spray is a convenient way to get the same effect throughout the day, too.

Use the above 3-step oral care system for optimum dental health – brush, floss and rinse your way to brighter teeth today!

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