27th February 2022
It’s important to maintain dental hygiene. After all, you don’t get a renewal if they fall out. Sharks do, but not humans. How to judge the health of your teeth? One of the easiest ways is by examining teeth stains.
Tooth stains can be annoying. They make you tight-lipped, literally. And that is bad for your social life and career. Fear not. While teeth stains look awful, they can be removed easily. We look at the best ways to remove teeth stains.
10 Easy Ways to Remove Stains from Teeth
1. Use whitening toothpaste
Does that sound prosaic to you? But it is what works best and is the safest way to clean teeth at home. The fact is, many stains go away if you brush regularly. Maybe not on the first day, but twice a day for a month, and you begin to notice a change.
Toothpaste brands such as Crest3D and Colgate Max White are exceptionally good at removing stains that are not too deep. The brushing technique matters and the proven way is to brush up and down as well as with a sideways motion. The plaque is sticky and does not move easily.
Brush twice a day, no more. Too much would see you losing enamel. Brush the back of the teeth as well. Most ignore this area, resulting in dark stains that spread gradually to the front. Use floss for cleaning dentures between teeth. Flossing is hard, but it saves teeth.
2. Use baking soda
Take a couple of large spoons of baking soda. Make a paste with a few drops of water and spread it evenly.
Rub the mixture into your teeth before you start brushing, it is a natural tooth whitening agent. It is a compound of sodium, a type of salt, to be precise. The slightly abrasive nature of the salt rubs gently against your teeth and removes stains.
Continue for a month and you will definitely see improvements.
3. Apply activated charcoal
Activated charcoal is a black powder made from heating wood in absence of oxygen. It has several medical uses, such as treating drug overdose.
Use a little bit and be careful. Though it is excellent at removing tooth stains, it can also make the tooth surface rougher unless used in moderation.
Do not use it regularly, since the enamel might get worn away.
4. Apply hydrogen peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is a natural bleaching agent. You have to use a highly diluted solution with no more than 3% of the chemical. Make a paste with one spoon of hydrogen peroxide and three spoons of baking soda.
The resulting paste is perfect for giving you a brilliant smile. Of course, it won’t happen the first time, but after a week you would see the difference.
5. Rub with fruit peel
You can use any type of peel—orange, banana, or lemon. Rub your teeth with the peel after you brush. Fruit peel contains citric acid. It has the same effect as using vinegar and water solution to clean stained glassware.
The acidic property of the peel can dissolve many types of stains and leave your teeth looking clean and healthy.
6. Consume a better diet
Stains usually happen from too much coffee, tea, and red wine. Cut them out and give your mouth a break from tannins. After a few months, you would notice that your teeth have become several shades whiter.
We are not asking you to give these up entirely. The stains happen because of coloured liquids sloshing around your mouth most of the day. Consume in moderation and the difference will be visible soon.
You would also be rid of toothache and the resulting headaches.
7. Tooth whitening strips
If you are in a hurry, tooth whitening strips (available from large brands such as Oral B) are a good choice. They are thin plastic strips coated with carbamide peroxide gel. Apply it, like you do Band-Aid, and the gel would press against the enamel and clean it.
After a few minutes, remove and wash your mouth with tepid, warm water. With most strips, you need to reuse them thrice a week for the best effect. Use this treatment in moderation. Too much and you risk losing enamel and will suffer tooth sensitivity.
8. Eat fruits
Many fruits have an uneven texture. When you chew, they rub against the tooth surface and act as a stain remover. The exfoliation is good for the tooth surface. There is no medical study, but many claims that papaya and pineapple remove tooth stains.
The former contains papain and the latter bromelain. These are digestive enzymes that can dissolve tooth stains.
9. Tooth whitening pens
These have emerged recently and brands such as Colgate Optic are quite popular. Tooth whitening pens contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide as a gel. You have to apply it and wait for the bleaching agent to break down the plaque.
Their primary appeal is convenience. It is easy to use the lipstick-like device and apply it to each tooth.
10. Ultrasonic scaling
This procedure can be done at a dentist and is a painless process. Using a small pen-like device, the dentist would break up pieces of tartar and plaque. The ultrasound is perfect for such a purpose and does not harm teeth at all.
He would also clean the area in between the teeth using a scaler and a curette. This level of cleaning can’t be done at home. It’s the same as getting a manicure at home as compared to a beauty salon.
Following the procedure, the dentist might suggest polishing to make the surface smooth.
Many dentists also provide tooth whitening treatments. They use the same compounds such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide but apply it expertly so as not to cause any damage.
Teeth whitening at an affordable cost
At Natural Smiles, we provide outstanding care at highly affordable rates. We not only offer ultrasonic scaling and polishing but provide tooth caps and implants to give you a charming smile. Call us now and we shall ensure your teeth look their best always.
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