Maintaining a White Smile

Stains and the effects of aging can make your smile look dull or yellow as the year pass. Fortunately, maintaining your white smile can be as simple as making a few, simple changes and taking advantage of the family dentistry services offered by the dentists at Pan Dental Care in Melrose, MA.

Watching what you eat can help you avoid stains

It's almost impossible to remove coffee or blueberry stains from a white tee shirt. The dark pigments embed themselves in the threads of the fiber and resist your efforts to remove them.

A similar process happens when you eat or drink foods or beverages that contain dark or brightly colored pigments. The pigments seep into microscopic pores in your tooth enamel. Every time you eat or drink, more and more pigments collect, making your teeth look dull.

Staying away from the foods or beverages that cause stains, or reducing the amount you consume, can help you avoid stains. In addition to coffee and blueberries, other stain-causing culprits include:

  • Red wine
  • Cola
  • Soy sauce
  • Tomato sauce
  • Beets
  • Pomegranates
  • Cherries
  • Raspberries
  • Blackberries
  • Sports drinks

Brush after meals

Brushing after meals can prevent some of the pigments from settling into your tooth enamel. If you can't brush, rinse your mouth with water.

Wait for at least a half-hour to brush after drinking cola or eating acidic foods, like tomato sauce. If you brush too soon, you may spread acids throughout your mouth, increasing your risk of tooth decay.

Try whitening toothpaste

Whitening toothpaste may help your teeth look a little brighter. Make sure the brand you choose contains the American Dental Association seal of approval.

Charcoal toothpaste and tooth powder have become a popular alternative to traditional whitening toothpaste recently. Keep in mind that these products may irritate your gums or erode your tooth enamel if used daily. Enamel erosion reveals the yellow dentin layer of teeth and will make your teeth look worse, not better.

Talk to your dentist about whitening options

If you would like your teeth to be whiter, mention your concerns during your next visit to the Melrose dental office. Depending on your goals and your budget, you may benefit from teeth whitening or veneers.

Whitening bleaches away stains in enamel in a single one-hour dental appointment, while veneers involve cementing tooth-shaped shells to the fronts of the teeth. Veneers are available in many shades of white, allowing you to customize your smile.

Are you ready to whiten your smile with a family dentistry service? Call your Melrose, MA, dentists at Pan Dental Care at (781) 665-5190 to schedule an appointment.

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