Tips for sparkling white teeth

Oral hygiene is of utmost importance. A clean, sparkling set of teeth can say so much about personality. There are several ways to keep your teeth looking white, using common food items along with good oral hygiene practices. Here are some fool-proof methods for teeth whitening, suggested by The Guardian:

Daily dose of strawberries

Despite their striking red colouring, strawberries are known to have a whitening effect on teeth. This berry juice is particularly effective for teeth stained by drinking coffee. “The key thing is that strawberries contain malic acid, which whitens the teeth,” said Dr Richard Marques, a celebrity dentist. Other food items with malic acid, like apples, and crunchy vegetables like carrots and celery too have a cleansing effect on the teeth.

Eat some cheese

Surprisingly enough, cheese is another food item that helps clean teeth. The natural minerals in cheese strengthen the enamel and make it look whiter. “It’s got calcium in it for a start, which is really good for your teeth,” said Marques. “Whiter cheeses are better.” Cheddar is one of the most effective ones as its hard surface has cleansing properties. Softer cheeses like brie and blue cheese don’t give the same results due to their texture.

Practice good oral hygiene

This is the most fool-proof way of getting and maintaining clean, white teeth. Good oral hygiene practices involved four minutes of brushing the teeth each day, two in the morning and two in the night. “There is some evidence that powered toothbrushes are better, particularly the ones with the small heads, but if you have a good technique, it doesn’t matter what you use,” said Prof Damien Walmsley, member of British Dental Association. While brushing, make sure to reach all the corners of your mouth. To get optimum results, place the brush at a 45-degree angle to the gums. Floss and use mouth wash later for best results.

Magic of baking soda

A study conducted in 2011 showed that toothpastes with baking soda were much more effective at preventing stains in the teeth. They were more beneficial than regular silica-based tooth pastes in whitening teeth. But you don’t have to use toothpaste with baking soda to achieve this effect. Mix a small amount of baking soda with water and use it to rinse the mouth. You can also directly apply baking soda on your teeth to get rid of tough stains. But don’t do this often as it is an abrasive and can damage the tooth enamel.

Visit a professional

If you feel your teeth are severely stained, it is better to visit a professional. Carefully controlled bleach is applied to the teeth to whiten them. It is better to go to the dentist rather than do it yourself with products that you get online. “You never know what you’re going to get. Studies have found that some products contained high levels of hydrogen peroxide that can be very damaging for the enamel,” says Walmsley.