Throughout the day it’s inevitable that you’ll come into contact with foods and drinks that stain teeth at some point or another. And while that can’t really be avoided you can do things after to limit the staining damage they’ll cause. In this article you’ll learn some tricks you can use to help whiten your teeth naturally.
- 1. Swish Water in Your Mouth
If you find yourself unable to brush your teeth shortly after drinking coffee or soda, you can limit the staining that will occur by taking a swig of water and swishing it around in your mouth for a few moments. Rinsing your mouth out will remove a great deal of the film that will otherwise sit on your teeth and stain them. It’s important to do this as soon as possible after drinking.
- 2. Eat Crunchy Foods
Eating some crunchy fruits and vegetables such as apples, celery or carrots can help clean staining tartar and plaque from your teeth. Chew on these foods whenever you can in order to give your teeth a fresh, clean feeling.
- 3. Use a Straw
Whenever you can drink colas and sports drinks through a straw, you should do so. Drinking them this way will limit the amount they come in contact with your teeth which will reduce staining. A straw brings the liquids directly to the back of your mouth and keeps your teeth white. Another way you can limit staining, if a straw is unavailable, is to swallow quickly and not keep the drinks in your mouth any longer than necessary.
- 4. Chew Gum
Similarly to eating crunchy foods, chewing gum after eating and drinking will help clean teeth. An important thing to mention is that this should be sugarless gum. If it isn’t it can be extremely counterproductive. Chewing gum will help get in between teeth and gums and remove food particles. Gum should never be a substitute for brushing, but it can give them a fresh feeling when brushing isn’t possible.
- 5. Brush Gently
The previous four tricks were all things you can do when unable to brush. This last one seems like an obvious one, but you’d be surprised how many people brush harder than they should without even realizing it. Brushing thoroughly and brushing hard are two different things. You should brush your teeth well, without damaging your gums or wearing away your enamel.
As was previously mentioned, these are natural teeth whitening tricks that you can use when you’re unable to immediately practice good oral hygiene. It’s important to note that they are not a replacement for brushing or flossing, nor are they teeth whitening treatments. Rather they should be considered stain prevention tricks that can make teeth whitening easier or unnecessary.