San Diego Orthodontist Dr. Anton J. Bisbas shares his top tips for maintaining healthy, white teeth after braces.
Maintaining a beautiful smile after your braces are removed is all about practicing good dental health.
The teeth are naturally white, but several factors may turn the teeth a yellow color. The most common reasons for teeth discoloration are:
* Poor dental hygiene habits
* Cigarette Smoking
* Eating and drinking dark colored foods
To get healthy white teeth, you must brush your teeth a minimum of three times a day. Change your toothbrush at least every two to three months otherwise, you’re just transferring bacteria to your mouth, according to San Diego orthodontist Dr. Anton J. Bisbas. The proper way to brush your teeth, prevent plaque, and reduce cavities is to brush your teeth in a gentle circular motion with fluoride toothpaste. Make sure you rinse your mouth with mouthwash and floss your teeth, especially before bedtime, so you can remove any leftovers that will lead to plaque and increase the risk of gum disease.
Smoking is not only bad for your health, cigarettes and cigars have nicotine that stains the teeth. Stop smoking not only for your health, but also for your dental health.
Go on a white-teeth diet. If you’re drinking red wine, dark sodas, and black tea, expect a mild discoloration of your teeth. If it’s dark before you put it in your mouth, it will probably stain your teeth. Brush your teeth immediately after eating or drinking foods that could stain teeth. For convenient teeth-cleaning action, eat an apple. Eating fresh foods that are firm or crisp help clean teeth as they’re eaten, other choices include raw carrots and celery.
Use strawberries to gently buff away mild stains from wine, coffee, and dark sodas. Combined with baking soda, strawberries become a natural tooth-cleanser and can enhance the teeth’s color from yellow to white. Apply the mixture directly on your teeth, then use a soft toothbrush to gently spread the mixture onto your teeth. Leave on for 5 minutes, then brush with toothpaste, rinse your mouth thoroughly and use dental floss to remove any remaining seeds.