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Here's How You Can Whiten Your Teeth

Your dental discoloration can make you feel uncomfortable about your appearance. This uncomfortableness can negatively affect your self-esteem and confidence in social situations. Nevertheless, dental discoloration does not have to be permanent. There are ways to improve the color of your teeth.

Here are a few things that you can do to whiten your teeth. 

Oil Rinse

Oil rinsing or oil pulling can help remove dental discoloration by pulling oil-based pigments from the teeth. As you eat or drink, colorants within the foods and beverages that you consume may become trapped within the pores of your tooth enamel. These pigments accumulate as time passes and cause your teeth to become progressively darker in color. 

To whiten your teeth by oil rinsing, before you brush or floss, place a bit of oil in your mouth and swish it about for several minutes. The oil that you use for an oil rinsing or oil pulling session should be a natural oil that you find palatable, such as sesame oil or coconut oil. 

After the oil has been swished about for a period, you can release it from your mouth, rinse with water, and then brush your teeth in your usual manner. 

Have Your Teeth Professionally Cleaned

A professional dental cleaning removes the tartar deposits that have built up on your teeth. Tartar, which is calcified plaque, has a dull yellow appearance that can discolor your teeth. As the tartar is scraped from the enamel surface with a scaling tool, the teeth look whiter. 

Use a Whitening Kit

A teeth whitening kit can be purchased at many local drug stores. The kits contain whitening liquids or gels that are placed on the teeth for a designated period to bleach away dental stains. The whitening products, which contain peroxide, are applied with the strips, brush, or mouth tray that is included in the kit.

It is important to only use the kit as directed. It may be tempting to use the products more often or for longer periods than the instructions advise. However, the misuse of whitening kits can lead to chronically sensitive teeth. 

The dental sensitivity may resolve as the use of the whitening products is discontinued. However, if the damage from the misuse of a whitening kit is too severe, the harm to the dental nerves may be irreparable, and an endodontic procedure may be needed to alleviate the discomfort. 

For more ways to whiten your teeth, schedule a consultation with a local dentist.