Unless you’ve managed to stay away from coffee, red wine, and foods with any sort of color, you’ve definitely wondered how to whiten teeth quickly at some point. Maybe you’re getting ready for a major event with plenty of images, or you just want to get rid of the yellowing that comes with enjoying the finer things in life. We’ve all been there, in one way or another.
Bright, white teeth not only boost your self-esteem but also indicate that your mouth is in good shape. So, if you’re trying to improve your dental hygiene routine, we’ve got you covered. Read on for 20 dentist-approved methods on how to whiten teeth quickly without seeing the dentist.
1. Ensure to brush after eating dark, sticky foods
Yes, coffee and red wine stain teeth, but other foods induce stains that are much more difficult to remove, according to Dr. Emanuel Layliev, head of the New York Center for Cosmetic Dentistry. Dr. Layliev warns, “If it stains a white shirt, it will stain your teeth.” Dark, sticky foods (particularly when hot) can penetrate deeply into the teeth, causing more extreme discoloration. Balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, tomato sauce, cranberry sauce, and chocolate syrup are just a few examples of foods that qualify.
And who is one of the most egregious offenders? Barbecue sauce is a type of sauce that is used to cook meat. “It’s dark, hot, and humid,” he explains, “so it’s a triple whammy.” The strategy for avoiding discoloration as much as feasible is as follows: Brush as soon as possible after eating or drinking dark meals, which isn’t always practicable. Swishing your mouth with water, as with coffee and wine stains, will help keep food stains at bay until you get a chance to brush.
2. Drink plenty of water
Water should be used to chase dark beverages like black coffee or red wine. Because the pigment takes 30 seconds to penetrate, drinking water with your coffee or wine will help to wash away any potential stains.
Make sure to use fogger machines whenever possible to keep your surroundings safe and virus-free.
3. Always go for a straw
Drinking highly-pigmented liquids (think coffee, red wine, and soda) with a straw helps prevent highly-pigmented liquids from getting into touch with your teeth and sabotaging whatever whitening efforts you’ve made. You may also abstain from all alcoholic beverages, but who wants to do that?
4. Try snacking on strawberries and cheese
Strawberries can be thought of as nature’s tooth cleaner. According to a spokeswoman for the Academy of General Dentistry, strawberries create an enzyme called malic acid, which is thought to keep teeth white. Is there anything else you can eat to maintain your teeth health? Cheese is delicious food. A form of lactic acid found in white cheddar and other cheeses helps to prevent tooth disease.
5. Take more fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables that are crunchy are excellent for removing plaque and cleaning the teeth and gums. Experts claim they also improve saliva production, which can help safeguard your dental health.
6. Use the blue-based lip color
Using a blue-based lip color will not affect the color of your teeth, but it will create the appearance of whiter teeth. What is the reason for this? Pinks, plums, and reds with a blue basis are claimed to counteract yellow tones in the teeth.
7. Always add milk to your tea
“Adding milk to tea decreases the tea’s capacity to stain teeth,” says Ava Chow of the University of Alberta’s School of Dentistry, who conducted research on the subject. Casein, a protein found in milk, binds to tannins (the substances that stain tea) and protects your enamel from staining. Unfortunately, tannins aren’t to blame for your latte-induced tooth darkening, thus this doesn’t apply to coffee.
8. Brush your teeth twice a day
To avoid stating the obvious, consistent dental maintenance goes a long way toward whitening teeth (along with keeping them healthy). Electric toothbrushes are preferred by dentists over manual toothbrushes because they clean teeth more thoroughly (and remove more surface stains). As a result, you might want to think about updating your brush. In terms of toothpaste, Luster Premium Power White Toothpaste is an excellent choice for daily use. It contains the same compounds that dentists use in their offices to whiten your teeth. After a week of using this toothpaste, you should notice brighter teeth.
9. Brush with baking soda once every week
We frequently assume that getting whiter teeth means spending a lot of money, however, this isn’t always the case: Baking soda is a kitchen staple, and dental specialists agree that this inexpensive item is effective. You may safely eliminate stains and lighten your teeth up to two shades by using them a few times a month. There is a caveat, though: brushing with baking soda too frequently might wear away at the enamel on your teeth. Brushing with a baking soda combination once a week is, nevertheless, harmless (and beneficial). “It’s not abrasive enough to wear down your enamel at that rate,“ explains Jennifer Jablow, DDS, a New York City cosmetic dentist.
If you’re wondering how to whiten your teeth using baking soda, the process is actually quite straightforward. Baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and a toothbrush are all you’ll need. Wet your toothbrush under the faucet and squirt some peroxide on the bristles. After that, dip the brush into the baking soda box, take it out, and brush for two minutes as you would with toothpaste. After rinsing with lukewarm water, you’re ready to go.
10. Go for oil pulling
Oil pulling involves swishing unrefined, cold-pressed organic coconut oil (or sunflower oil or sesame oil) around in your mouth for 5 to 45 minutes before spitting it out to whiten your teeth and remove toxins. Gwyneth Paltrow swears by this tooth whitening procedure, which was initially discovered in ancient Ayurvedic literature.
What makes it so effective? “The oil absorbs plaque (made up of germs) that is sitting on your teeth, making them brighter,” adds Marc Lowenberg, D.D.S., of New York City’s Lowenberg, Lituchy & Kantor Dentistry. “When I floss, I notice the better breath, whiter teeth, and less bleeding around the gums,” he says.
11. Floss
Flossing can help to remove plaque and food particles from between your teeth, making your smile look brighter overall. Use soft floss like Oral-B Advantage Floss Picks on a daily basis.
12. Rub your teeth with vaseline
Another (though not a little unusual) method for avoiding red wine stains? When drinking red wine, apply Vaseline to your front teeth to prevent discoloration, advises Gregg Lituchy, D.D.S., of Lowenberg, Lituchy & Kantor Dentistry. Between the pigment and your enamel, Vaseline will act as a barrier.
13. Reduce your sugar intake
Too much sugar in your diet can cause tooth decay, gingivitis, cavities, and plaque, all of which can stain your pearly whites. You don’t have to fully eliminate sugar from your diet, but if you want whiter teeth, keep track of how much you consume. The American Heart Association suggests that women limit their sugar intake to 25 grams (or 100 calories) while men limit their sugar intake to 37.5 grams (or 150 calories).
14. Stop smoking
Tobacco usage causes teeth to discolor and deteriorate, as well as tooth loss. Furthermore, smoking depletes your mouth’s ability to fight illness, causing plaque to build up and bacteria to proliferate. In addition to the numerous ways that smoking is bad for your health, it will also sabotage your efforts to whiten your teeth.
15. Mouthrinse with apple cider vinegar once a week
Another way to whiten your teeth in three minutes or less? Rinse your teeth with apple cider vinegar, which will eat away at surface stains. Because it’s so strong, you won’t need much vinegar. Add one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to a cup of water to dilute it. Swish a sip about your mouth for 1-2 minutes before spitting it out and washing with water. Because too much apple cider vinegar might destroy tooth enamel, you should only use it once a week. It’s efficient and quick.
16. Try using a whitening kit
The best teeth whitening kits are made to keep a (milder) hydrogen peroxide solution as close to your teeth as possible for as long as possible each day. Custom-made trays that fit your teeth perfectly (with stronger peroxide) are available from your dentist, but if that’s too expensive, generic trays and stick-on strips are also viable solutions. In reality, they can produce the same outcomes as in-office bleaching for many people, but over a longer period of time (around six weeks).
Even if you’ve previously had in-office bleaching, maintaining your results at home with a tray or strips is a good idea. However, avoid trays that were not made from a mold of your mouth because the peroxide may leak out and irritate your gums.
Here’s a helpful hint: Have professional teeth cleaning before commencing any at-home whitening kit. Your enamel will come into contact with the bleach in this manner. If plaque has built up on your teeth, the lightning chemicals will not be able to penetrate. You simply need to wear them for five minutes, so you can whiten your teeth on your way to work—and the results will stay for up to six months.
17. Always keep a teeth whitening pen with you
Dentists advise using touch-up teeth whitening pens after eating or drinking dark-colored meals (think marinara sauce, spinach, etc.). It’s a good idea to keep some in your pocketbook to guarantee that these dark pigments don’t stay on the surface of your teeth long enough to stain. Take a look at the Go Smile Whitening Pen.
18. Visit your dentist for a quick solution
In-office bleaching at a dentist’s office is the quickest and most dramatic approach to whiten. Your dentist can remove even deep stains in approximately an hour using professional-strength hydrogen peroxide and powerful lights or lasers. It will, however, cost you somewhere between $500 and $1,200. For most individuals, it isn’t completely painless; the bleach can induce a strong burning sensation.
19. Consider veneers
Whitening procedures with peroxide do not work for everyone. Hold a piece of white paper near your mouth to see whether you’re a candidate. The remedies will work if your teeth appear yellow. However, if your teeth appear grey, the staining is originating from within the tooth and can only be treated with bonding or veneers (people with fair skin have thinner enamel and are more likely to have this type of grey discoloration). A single veneer can cost up to $2,500, and it will need you to grind down your own tooth. While veneers are a quick way to whiten your teeth, they should only be used as a last resort.
20. Other methods non-proven methods you can try
Other natural tooth whitening options exist, but there is no scientific evidence that they are safe or effective. The following are some of the unproven methods:
- Activated charcoal; brushing your teeth with powdered charcoal is said to extract toxins out of your mouth and eliminate stains.
- Brushing with kaolin clay, according to proponents, helps to erase stains from teeth.
- Peels from fruits. It is said that rubbing orange, lemon, or banana peels on your teeth would whiten them.
- Vinegar made from apple cider. There is no proof that using vinegar as a mouthwash aids in tooth whitening. It, on the other hand, erodes the enamel and promotes tooth decay.
- Although proponents of these procedures claim that they dramatically whiten teeth, no research has been conducted to back up their claims. This also implies they haven’t been thoroughly evaluated for potential negative effects when used on teeth.
Check out this article on benefits of adding broth to your diet
