Keeping your smile shiny and white

You’re browsing photos in your social media account when you suddenly noticed someone posted a photo of you (and your teeth are as yellow as bananas).  Panic might strike you. You probably would untag the photo or ask your friend to delete the awkward photo.  Embarrassing, right?

In today’s social media frenzy, we want to present ourselves the best as possible.  That’s why photo enhancement applications are invented and widely used these days.  These ‘apps’ can enhance your face and even whiten your teeth!  Amazing!

But, wouldn’t you want white teeth in real life?   Here’s how.

*photo grabbed from the internet

Avoid stains

There are variety of foods and drinks that stain our teeth.  These can discolor and even erode our tooth enamel, the white outer layer of our tooth. 

Deeply colored sauces like tomato sauce, soy sauce and curry can discolor our teeth.  Vibrant colored fruits like blueberries, blackberries, and cherries can do the same too.  Just make sure to brush after eating to lessen the effect.

On the other hand, citrus fruits like lemon and orange are acidic and can erode our tooth enamel which exposes the yellowish part of our tooth called dentin, the tissue beneath the enamel made up of calcium and phosphate crystals.   

Coffee, tea, wine, and chocolates can also result to tooth discoloration from yellow to grey.  They contain tannic acid which makes the enamel softer and damaged.  The same goes to sports drinks, energy drinks and carbonated drinks like cola and soda which are acidic and usually dyed.  These can eat away enamel if consumed frequently.  Dentists advise to use a straw when drinking beverages or drink water to neutralize the mouth or brush your teeth afterwards.

If you have a sweet tooth, you should take extra care of your teeth and limit consumption of sugary and starchy foods. Sugar and starch stick to teeth and serves as a meal for the bacteria.  The bacteria produce acid which leads not only tooth discoloration but tooth decay. 

Keep the habit

Maintaining a beaming white teeth can be as simple as brushing your teeth after every meal.  The color of our teeth changes as we age and discoloration is usually caused by plaque build-up. 

Dental plaque is a sticky colorless deposit on the surface of the teeth that later turns into tartar – a hardened plaque usually brown or pale yellow deposits on teeth.  It is composed of the Streptococus Mutans and other microorganisms in the mouth.  When these bacteria feed on the sugar and starch it produces acid which is responsible for teeth discoloration and worse – cavity and tooth decay.

Regular brushing with fluoride toothpaste and flossing helps whiten your teeth and keeps your mouth healthy.  The Department of Health highly recommends visiting your dentist twice a year for consultation and dental cleaning.  Your dentist can catch dental problems early and give remedies before they become bigger problems.

Don't Light Up that stick

Smoking is not only dangerous to health but also great in staining your pearly whites.  Tobacco causes brown stains that penetrates the tooth enamel – making it hard to remove by just brushing alone.  The longer you smoke, the more deeply rooted the stains become.

Smoking also causes bad breath and gingivitis (gum disease), and increases the risk of most types of cancer including oral cancer.  If you’re a smoker, consider quitting now not only to keep your teeth white but also to lessen health risks.

Be mindful of your oral health and keep your teeth shiny and white.  Keeping a healthy mouth only takes regular brushing, flossing and visiting the dentist.  So ready your cameras, smile wide and say, “white teeth!”

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/ss/slideshow-10-secrets-to-whiter-teeth
http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/plaque-causes