Have you ever smiled at yourself in the mirror and wished you had a brighter, nicer smile? Do you get self-conscious when you smile around friends or while on a date?
Well, you’re not alone. Over 50% of Americans are insecure about their teeth and their smile.
You don’t have to stay insecure about your teeth, though! Keep reading to learn about 7 cosmetic dentistry secrets for a brighter smile!
1. Stay Away From Specific Foods
You’ve probably heard from your dentist to lay off the coffee and red wine if you want your teeth to be whiter. Have you ever just brushed that off thinking it’s just their job to tell you to stay away from caffeine and alcohol?
Well, they’re actually right! What you eat and drink can have a huge impact on the color of your teeth.
If you’re a turmeric lover and you’ve noticed that whenever you use this spice that you’re staining your dishes, the same thing is happening to your teeth. Other culprits include balsamic vinegar, blackberries, tomato sauces, and curries.
In addition to these teeth-staining foods, you should also stay away from chewy or sugary foods. This can cause bacteria that will eat away at the enamel and cause problems in the long term like cavities.
You don’t need to eliminate these delicious foods from your diet, but make sure to watch your consumption so you’re not eating too much of it!
2. Use the Right Mouthwash
Dentists often tell you to add mouthwash to your nighttime dental routine. But did you know that the kind of mouthwash that you choose to use matters?
Any mouthwash with chlorhexidine gluconate can actually cause staining. If you’re using this mouthwash, it’s most likely to help with bleeding gums. This is great in the short term, but is not recommended for long-term use!
When you visit your dentist, you should ask which mouthwash brands they recommend that do not have this ingredient. Talk about your concerns of staining so they understand what the mouthwash is for.
3. You May Be Using Whitening Toothpaste Too Often
Are you a fan of whitening toothpaste to achieve a whiter smile? Many of us are! But you may actually be causing more staining than you are helping with the staining.
How? Good question.
The whitening in the toothpaste will remove staining from the enamel on your teeth. However, many whitening kinds of toothpaste are very abrasive and can actually remove some of the outer enamel on your teeth. If this happens, it will end up showing the dentin below the surface, which has a more yellow tint to it.
4. Throw Out Your Toothbrush and Replace It With an Electric Toothbrush
Electric toothbrushes have become the new rage in recent years. And for good reason.
Over the course of the day, tartar will build up along your teeth and along your gumlines. An electric toothbrush gives you just the right amount of power to get rid of plaque build-up and keep it away without being too abrasive. The vibration of the electric toothbrush provides tiny movements that you cannot achieve with a manual toothbrush.
Many electric toothbrushes also have different settings, which can come in handy if you have sensitive teeth or gums. They also have timers to make sure you aren’t skimping out on brushing your teeth for those two necessary minutes!
5. Straighten Your Teeth
Choosing to straighten your teeth is not an easy decision. A lot of time and money goes into having this cosmetic treatment done. You also may be older and not like the look of braces or want to deal with Invisalign.
However, straightening your teeth does a lot more than just making your teeth straight and improving your smile.
The straighter your teeth are, the easier it is for you to clean your teeth. When it’s easy to clean your teeth, you’ll notice that your smile is whiter and has less plaque buildup!
6. Add More Protective Foods into Your Diet
Just like you should stay away from certain foods that cause staining or are bad for your teeth in general, there are foods that can actually protect your enamel and teeth.
Eating fruits, vegetables, healthy proteins, and healthy fats can actually produce more saliva in your mouth. This can help remove plaque and polish your teeth.
A few foods you should add to your diet:
- Green or black tea
- Foods high in fiber
- Seafood
- Plain yogurt
A surprising one that you may like to consume more of? Cheese. It produces a ton of saliva!
7. Schedule a Regular Cleaning
This may be the easiest cosmetic dentistry secret to have done! The best thing you can do for your teeth is to make sure you are regularly having them checked and cleaned by a professional dentist. This level of cleaning goes deeper than what you can do yourself at home.
You can have as many dental treatments done as you want, but if you are not regularly cleaning your teeth, the point is mute. You should schedule dental cleanings at least every 6 months.
Get Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments to Brighten Your Smile
If you feel like you’re doing everything you can at home to keep your teeth clean, but aren’t seeing results, you’re probably extremely disappointed. But there are still many ways to improve your confidence through cosmetic dentistry.
Call us today at Cherry Creek Dental Group to set up an appointment for whatever service you need!