For Whiter Teeth, Stop Doing These EIGHT Things

We all want brighter, whiter teeth, not just today but all through our lives. That’s part of why we brush and floss and make bi-annual appointments with our Kansas City family dentist for cleanings and check-ups.

But simply cleaning our teeth isn’t always enough. Our brightest and healthiest smiles are the result of lifestyle decisions we make every day. Here are eight things you should AVOID doing if you want whiter teeth today, tomorrow, and for the rest of your life:

Skipping the healthy foods. You may already avoid foods that are likely to stain your teeth, but there are actually healthy foods that you should be sure NOT to skip if you want to keep your teeth their whitest. These include foods such as milk, yogurt, cheese, citrus fruits, leafy greens, almonds, carrots, celery, and foods such as fish that are rich in Omega-3s. All these foods have vitamins, nutrients, and other properties that can help protect your smile and keep your teeth healthy.

Leaving your dental products behind. Sure, you brush and floss when you’re at home, but do you take your dental products with you when you travel? How about to the office? Whether you’re going to work or school, spending an evening on the town, or taking a family trip, it’s a good idea to pack along travel-size versions of your dental products so that you can care for your teeth on the go.

Adding so much lemon to your water. We just mentioned that citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges are a great source of vitamins, but lemons, in particular, are also highly acidic, so you should be careful with how many you have. Specifically, squeezing some lemon into your water may give it a nice, tart taste, but it can also do some damage to the enamel of your teeth. If you enjoy a little lemon in your water, just do so in moderation.

Drinking so much coffee, tea, and red wine. For many of us, a cup of coffee or tea to start the day or a glass of red wine to end it are virtual necessities. But coffee, tea, and red wine are all also notorious for staining teeth. Again, enjoy, but keep it to a minimum if you want your teeth to stay their whitest.

Sipping coffee throughout the day. Speaking of coffee, try to get your caffeine fix all at once. You risk staining your teeth more by sipping your favorite coffee all day long rather than drinking it all in one sitting. That’s because you’re exposing your smile to the teeth-staining tannins in coffee for a much longer duration. Enjoy that morning cup but have it all at once rather than spacing it out throughout the day.

Using tobacco products. We all know that tobacco products are bad for us in a number of ways, and they definitely have bad effects on our teeth. The nicotine and tar contained in tobacco products will yellow your teeth in remarkably short order.

Brushing so hard. Don’t get us wrong, brushing your teeth is important, but you don’t have to brush too hard. In fact, brushing your teeth too hard can damage the enamel of your teeth and also lead to receding gums and tooth sensitivity.

Skipping your bi-annual dental visits. Regular visits to your family dentist in Kansas City are just as important as brushing and flossing every day. And if your teeth still aren’t as white as you’d like, ask your dentist about safe, easy, and effective teeth whitening treatments while you’re there.

At Blacker Family Dental in Kansas City, we’ve been helping our patients achieve their brightest, whitest smiles for years, not to mention helping with dental implants, sleep apnea, and more. Call (816) 763-8400 or click here to schedule an appointment.