Maintaining The Whiteness Of Your Teeth

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Dental discoloration can occur because of the pigmented foods and drinks that you consume. Additionally, teeth can darken due to decay or age. Here a few things that you can do to maintain the whiteness of your teeth.

Chew Whitening Gum

Whitening chewing gum does not dramatically improve the color of your teeth. However, it can help prevent the teeth from becoming progressively stained. The gum contains whitening components, such as malic acid or titanium dioxide. Malic acid helps to dissolve newly deposited stains before they settle on the teeth. Titanium dioxide is mildly abrasive and gently polishes away stains.

Brush With a Whitening Toothpaste

Like whitening gum, a whitening toothpaste contains polishers, such as titanium dioxide and sodium bicarbonate that gently minimize reduce stains. The toothpaste can be applied as a normal toothpaste would and usually contains fluoride. If you have had your teeth chemically whitened using a bleaching product, the whitening toothpaste can help preserve the new white color of your teeth.

Use Fluoride Treatments

Teeth can darken from dental decay, which is the dissolution of the enamel. Still, decay may be avoided, and some of the enamel can be preserved through remineralization using a fluoride treatment. During the treatment, the fluoride product is applied to the teeth and left in place for a few minutes. It is then rinsed from the mouth.

The fluoride attracts minerals that have been displaced from the enamel back to the tooth material. As the minerals reach the fluoride-coated teeth, the substances combine with the fluoride to form new enamel and halt decay.

Avoid Hard-bristled Toothbrushes

As a person ages, their teeth may appear less white. This darkening of the teeth is often due to the wearing away of the tooth enamel. The tooth consists of several layers. The outermost and whitest layer is the enamel. 

Beneath the enamel lies a pale yellow layer of tooth material, called the dentin. As more dentin is exposed, the tooth looks progressively darker. To help minimize the wear and tear on the enamel, you should always brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Soft bristles can clean the teeth as effectively as their harder counterparts. However, they are less damaging to the tooth enamel.

Have Regular Dental Cleanings

Professional dental cleanings remove tartar from the teeth. The tartar, which is hardened plaque, is yellow and can give the teeth a dull, stained appearance. Dental cleanings should be performed at least twice a year. To learn more ways to keep your teeth looking their whitest, schedule a teeth whitening consultation with a dentist in your local area.


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