Two Steps to Whiter Teeth

Teeth can easily grow stained or discolored, especially as you grow older. There are many ways to make your teeth whiter from home remedies up to and including cosmetic dentistry.

Low-cost, at-home solutions

Prevention is one approach. Avoid drinking beverages that stain including colas, coffees and teas as well as eating fruit like blueberries. If you do drink or eat staining things, try not to hold them for long in your mouth and rinse afterward. Foods like carrots and apples can also help generate saliva that helps prevent staining.

In drugstores, you can get over-the-counter whitening kits, whitening toothpastes and other gels and rinses to help get rid of stains.

Talk to your dentist

Veneers, bonding and cavities may all present challenges to whitening teeth. Cavities should be filled before whitening is done. If you have bonding and veneers, they will not change color with the rest of your teeth if you whiten them. A cosmetic dentist who whitens your teeth may be able to deal with issues like tooth and gum sensitivity more effectively than you would at home. You can also work with a dentist to whiten teeth at the same time that you get veneers or have them replaced to match your newly whitened teeth.

The bottom line

Whitening your teeth is generally something you do to feel better about your smile rather than a medical necessity. However, it can also make you proud of your teeth and more likely to take good care of them.