A whiter, brighter smile is up there on most people’s wish list. Studies have shown that whiter teeth are associated with youth, vitality and health so it is perhaps no surprise that we spent £100 million on teeth whitening products in the UK last year in pursuit of just this.
According to a BUPA survey, one in four of us hide our smiles in photographs because we’re so ashamed of discoloured teeth. The survey also found that nearly half of us say our teeth are the first thing we’d change about ourselves given the chance, yet the perfect ‘Hollywood smile’ we see so many celebrities flaunting can often seem out of reach to the rest of us.
However, Dr Richard Marques says that improving the appearance of our teeth is something we can all achieve, even on a budget. Here, he gives his top tips…
Make sure you brush enough
It’s time to go back to basics. We should all be brushing for two-to-three minutes twice a day (set a timer on your phone!) as well as flossing daily.
‘I recommend that you should floss after brushing for maximum effect. However, flossing before brushing will not be detrimental.’
Choose the right toothbrush
All dentists agree that an electric toothbrush delivers a more effective and efficient clean and polish and will remove more stains than manual brushing. Studies show that electric toothbrushes can remove up to 70% more plaque than manual brushes alone.
Use the right toothpaste
Dr Marques says that whitening toothpastes DO work, and they can be a great way to brighten your smile.
Try DIY methods
A whiter smile doesn’t have to break the bank and is possible even with items you can find around the house. Your gran probably swore by baking soda for removing stains and it works in the same way when applied to the teeth. Dr Marques suggests mixing a quarter teaspoon of baking soda with water and applying it to your teeth with a toothbrush.
‘Baking Soda is a natural teeth whitener and included in many toothpastes. It will not damage your teeth in any way but will make them look gradually whiter over time.’
You could also simply add some baking soda to your toothpaste. You’ll need to do so every day for at least a fortnight to notice a difference in the colour of your teeth. Other home remedies include warm salt water as a mouthwash.
‘This helps both whiten your teeth naturally and looks after your gums, as it is a natural antibacterial. Mix a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm kettle boiled water, let it cool and use it as mouthwash.’
Dr Marques also suggests using coconut oil as a mouth rinse, a technique known as ‘oil pulling’. ‘Use a tablespoon of coconut oil and swill in the mouth for as long as you can. The longer the better (15 minutes is the ideal amount of time). This removes bacteria and helps prevent plaque and stains from sticking to teeth by lubricating them.’
If you can bear the strange taste and the potential mess, charcoal is another effective way to help clean and whiten your teeth. ‘It’s a 100% natural tooth polish made from activated coconut shell charcoal. It strengths gums, removes toxins from the mouth and absorbs bacteria,’ says Dr Marques.
Rethink your diet
The lighter the food you eat, the less staining it tends to cause, according to Dr Marques.
‘Eat white foods, such as chicken, rice and fish. The whiter the foods you eat the whiter your teeth will be. Avoid pigmented foods such as beetroot, blueberries, carrots and Chinese/Indian takeaways, which tend to have lots of turmeric or food colourings in. Food colourings stain teeth by binding to the tooth surface.’
Strawberries are a natural cleanser, as are apples, due to the Malic acid they contain and can naturally whiten your teeth. Cheese is another great naturally cleansing food that can strengthen the teeth.
‘Cheese contains calcium and also has a cleansing surface structure – especially hard cheese like cheddar… In terms of drinks, opt for water, milk, lemonade or tonic water as these are the least likely to cause staining and white wine is better than red wine. The Calcium in milk helps strengthen tooth enamel and structure as well as the jawbone. Water is a natural cleanser washing away plaque.’
Visit your dentist
Your dentist can advise you on in-clinic laser teeth whitening, which uses hydrogen peroxide activated by a laser light to remove staining from inside the teeth in just one hour. It can’t turn your teeth a 100% brilliant white (which, let’s be honest, would be rather odd) but it should whiten your teeth by several shades. Dr Marques says:
‘Laser whitening is a great and effective treatment when done under control. This is a treatment where whitening gels are applied to the teeth and a laser light is used to activate the gels and whiten the teeth.’
Laser whitening lasts for around one year.
