Sure wine and coffee can stain teeth, but did you know that the true key to a brighter, whiter smile is actually your daily oral hygiene routine? Having a solid oral hygiene routine with a few key elements really shows when you flash that bold, beautiful smile. So what are those key elements? Today’s your lucky day because we’re going to give you a few inside secrets so you know just what to do to take your oral hygiene routine to the next level!
Tips for Brushing
When it comes to brushing your teeth, harder is NOT better. In fact, you can actually make your teeth appear yellow from brushing too hard. If you begin to wear down on the enamel, or the protective outer layer of teeth, you begin to expose the dentin which is yellow in color. To avoid this, choose a soft bristled brush and brush gently.
Pro Tip: Up your game by brushing three times a day. Keep a brush at work or school (or keep it in your bag) and brush after lunch. Then, if you eat something potentially staining, you minimize any damage by removing it from your mouth completely much quicker than if you were to wait until bedtime.
Tips for Flossing
Think flossing doesn’t matter for a whiter smile? Think again! People who don’t floss can easily end up with yellowing and staining in the crevices between teeth that eventually begins to spread out onto the surfaces of the teeth. Flossing goes a long way to keep teeth not only healthier but free of stains, as well.
Pro Tip: For the best results, try a water flosser. You will be amazed at how clean your mouth will feel after!
Tips for Mealtime
A war begins in your mouth just seconds after you take a bite of food or a drink of anything other than water. The best way to end it is to finish eating and rinse your mouth with water. So, another tip we have is to finish every meal with a quick rinse of water to help your mouth do a quick reset!
Pro Tip: If you drink coffee (or anything other than water) don’t sip it slowly over the course of an hour. Instead try and drink it without prolonging the process. This way your mouth is not under attack for such an extended period of time. Don’t forget to rinse your mouth with water after!
Tips for Whitening
When it comes to whitening, it can be tempting to try all of the products that line the oral care aisles of every store from Target to your local grocery store. The problem is you would have to use a ton of them to get even close to the same results you would from a professional whitening treatment. So while it may seem cheaper, at the end of the day all those over the counter products add up.
Pro Tip: Not only do professional treatments work faster, it’s also so much safer to have your teeth whitened by a professional. Over the counter products can damage gums or even enamel, especially if not used correctly.
Now that you know some of our best tips for your oral hygiene routine, which ones will you start implementing into your daily routine? Do you have any tips you have learned along the way that we didn’t include? If so, we’d love to hear them in the comments section!