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Slideshow: 10 Secrets to Brighter,
Whiter Teeth
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Want Brighter, Whiter Teeth?
Have your pearly whites
lost their luster because of dingy gray or yellow stains? Stained teeth can
occur as we age, but some common foods, drinks, and even mouthwashes can stain
teeth. Do-it-yourself remedies can help whiten teeth, and avoiding substances
that stain teeth can stop further discoloration. Use these secrets to whiter
teeth to restore your bright smile.
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Do-It-Yourself Teeth Whitening
You may be able to get
rid of superficial stains by yourself. A number of at-home tooth-whitening
products -- kits, strips, toothpastes, and rinses-- may lighten stains. There
are even some old-fashioned remedies you can try. Tooth-whitening products available
on drugstore shelves use mild bleach to brighten yellow teeth. Toothpastes use
abrasives and chemicals to remove surface stains. For deep stains, you may need
a dentist's help.
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Tooth-Whitening Kits
A home tooth-whitening
kit contains carbamide peroxide, a bleach that can remove both deep and surface
stains and actually changes your natural tooth color. If you have
coffee-stained teeth, a tooth-bleaching kit can help. With some kits, you apply
a peroxide-based gel (with a small brush) to the surface of your teeth. In
other kits, the gel is in a tray that molds to the teeth. The tray must be worn
daily (for 30 to 45 minutes) for a week or more.
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Home Whitening Strips
Tooth-whitening strips
will help get rid of tooth stains. These strips are very thin, virtually
invisible, and are coated with a peroxide-based whitening gel. You wear them a
few minutes daily for a week or more. Results are visible in just a few days, and
last at least a year. The results with strips are not as dramatic as with
whitening kits, but the strips are easy to use and pretty much foolproof.
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Whitening Toothpastes and Rinses
How to get stains off
your teeth? Over-the-counter toothpastes, gels, and rinses help remove some
surface stains. Many of these products contain mild abrasives, chemicals, or
polishing agents. Unlike bleaches, they don't change the natural color of
teeth.
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Home Remedies for Whiter Teeth
Some people still prefer
the age-old home remedy of baking soda and a toothbrush to gently whiten teeth
at home. Also, some foods such as celery, apples, pears, and carrots trigger
lots of saliva, which helps wash away food debris on your teeth. Chewing
sugarless gum is a tooth-cleansing action and also triggers saliva. A bonus
from all that saliva: It neutralizes the acid that causes tooth decay. With
teeth, more saliva is better all around.
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Tooth Whitening and Dental Work
Approach tooth whitening
with caution if you have lots of dental veneers, bonding, fillings, crowns, and
bridges. Bleach will not lighten these manufactured teeth -- meaning they will
stand out among your newly whitened natural teeth. In order to match your
whiter teeth, you may need to investigate new dental work, including veneers or
bonding.
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Preventing Teeth Stains
As we age, the outer
layer of tooth enamel wears away. The underlying layer, called dentin, is
yellower. That's why it's important to try to avoid staining teeth in the first
place, especially after whitening. If you take care with foods and drinks that discolor
teeth, the results of whitening may last up to one year. Whitening teeth too
often could make them look translucent and blue, so you'll want to maintain
your new smile.
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To Keep Teeth White, Don't Light Up
Not only is it bad for
your health, smoking is one of the worst offenders when it comes to staining
teeth. Tobacco causes brown stains that penetrate the grooves and pits of tooth
enamel. Tobacco stains can be hard to remove by brushing alone. The longer you
smoke, the more entrenched the stains become. Smoking also causes bad breath
and gingivitis (gum disease), and increases the risk of most types of cancer.
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Foods that Cause Teeth Stains
There's another reason
to watch what you eat. Some common foods can discolor teeth. Here's an easy way
to tell if a food might be at fault: Anything that can stain a white cotton
T-shirt can stain teeth, say dentists. Coffee stains teeth, for example. Other
top offenders are beverages such as tea, dark sodas, and fruit juices. These
teeth stains develop slowly and become more noticeable as we age.
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Think As You Drink
They may be packed with
disease-fighting antioxidants, but a glass of red wine, cranberry juice, or
grape juice also stains teeth easily. That doesn't mean you should give them
up, but remember to rinse your mouth after you drink. These aren't the only
teeth-staining foods to be aware of.
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More Foods That Stain Teeth
The deep color of these
fruits and veggies gives them their nutritional punch. But blueberries,
blackberries, and beets leave their color on teeth as well. Eat up for your
health, and prevent tooth stains by:
·
Brushing teeth immediately after eating.
·
Rinsing your mouth with water.
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Sports Drinks Tough on Teeth?
While all sweetened
drinks are bad for teeth, some energy and sports drinks may be worse, according
to one study in General Dentistry. Researchers found that these
drinks -- as well as bottled lemonade -- may erode tooth enamel after long-term
use. The result is thin, translucent, discolored teeth. To prevent tooth
erosion:
·
Don't sit and sip these drinks for a long
time.
·
Rinse your mouth with water when you
finish drinking.
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Medications That Can Stain Teeth
The antibiotic
tetracycline causes gray teeth in children whose teeth are still developing.
Antibacterial mouthwashes that contain chlorhexidine or cetylpyridinium
chloride can also stain teeth. Some antihistamines, antipsychotic drugs, and
blood pressure medications cause tooth stains, as can iron and excess fluoride.
If bleaching doesn't help, ask your dentist about dental bonding, in which a
tooth-colored material is applied to teeth.
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Don't Forget Daily Maintenance
One simple strategy can
help maintain white teeth: brush. Brush at least twice daily. Even better,
brush after every meal and snack. Brushing helps prevent stains and yellow
teeth, especially at the gum line. Both electric and sonic toothbrushes may be
superior to traditional toothbrushes in removing plaque and surface stains on
teeth. Also, don't forget to floss and use an antiseptic mouthwash daily.
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Open Wide and Say 'Whiter Teeth!'
See your dentist for
regular checkups and professional cleaning. The abrasion and polishing methods
dentists use can remove many teeth stains caused by food and tobacco.
This tool does not provide medical advice.
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