I want a brighter smile this autumn – what choices do I have?

I want a brighter smile this autumn – what choices do I have?

Have you enjoyed the summer? Sadly, if you have enjoyed it to the extent that you haven’t realised how much tea, coffee and red wine you have been consuming, your teeth could be looking noticeably more yellow than they did at the start of the summer, as all of these drinks are staining.

Smoking is another habit capable of yellowing your teeth, but how could you restore the brightness of your smile? Here are a few methods that you could consider giving a go.

Whitening toothpastes and rinses

In your local store, you might have come across particular toothpastes and rinses branded as “whitening” products. These products often contain mild abrasives, chemicals or polishing agents, says WebMD. However, using whitening toothpaste won’t change your teeth’s natural hue.

For this reason, you might deem it a safer remedy than bleaches, which actually would alter that natural colour. Of course, this can be good for your peace of mind.

Foods that stimulate saliva production

Now that we are in the second half of the year, many of us will be swapping ice creams and lollies for foods that aren’t quite so notable for their temperature-lowering ability.

Your new favoured foods could include apples, pears, celery and carrots – and, fortunately, those four particular foods are examples of those capable of triggering saliva production in abundance. That saliva could help in washing food debris off your teeth to leave a shinier smile.

Professional teeth whitening

You might live near a dental clinic where a dental care professional can supervise whitening of your teeth. This could make you feel safer than using a tooth whitening home application kit available from stores, so it’s reassuring that London residents can easily turn to the practice Ten Dental.

This company runs clinics in Balham, Wandsworth and Clapham – all London areas where you can receive professional teeth whitening for a more naturally appealing smile. Ten Dental even offers power whitening, where lighter teeth can be yours within 90 minutes of treatment.

Preventing teeth stains after whitening

As you walk out of a dental practice where you have received teeth whitening, you should make a mental note not to excessively consume foods and drinks that are known to discolour teeth.

If you follow this advice, it could be up to a year before the effects of the whitening start to fade. Otherwise, you could inadvertently wear away the upper layer of your teeth’s enamel, leaving the underlying layer – dentin – exposed in its comparatively yellowy glory… or lack of glory.

Brushing your teeth at least twice a day

This should be done as a matter of course, as it is an example of a simple strategy that can go a long way towards preserving the whiteness of your teeth.

It would be even better for you to brush after every occasion that you eat. You could consider investing in an electric toothbrush, too, as this could be more effective than a standard toothbrush in clearing plaque and surface stains off teeth.