4 Things You Can Do to Keep Your Teeth White

Have you ever met someone who completely exuded confidence from the first moment you met? Chances are that person was sporting a beautiful, white Hollywood smile. But when your teeth are stained and discolored, the smiles come less frequently, or not at all.

The good news is there are plenty of things you can do to erase the evidence of a life well-lived, says Ginger Rome, DDS, and the friendly, skilled dental team at The Dentists at North Cypress in Houston, Texas. Dr. Rome shares four things you can do to keep your teeth white and healthy.

How teeth whitening works

Let’s start this conversation by first describing the anatomy of teeth to understand how staining and discoloration happens in the first place. Four layers of tissue compose your teeth. The healthy, pearly white glow, hard outside layer, called enamel, and the largest part, the inside layer, called dentin, are the key players.

The enamel layer acts like a protective shield for the inside parts of your teeth. It’s composed of a durable mineral that provides that opulent, dazzling glow and a strong, protective barrier. Despite its strength, outside forces like poor hygiene or certain foods or drinks can stain the enamel. Making matters worse, breaches in the enamel can cause the deep yellow or brown dentin layer to peek through.

1. Maintain an at-home hygiene routine

One of the best ways to keep your teeth looking bright and beautiful is to practice daily at-home hygiene oral care, meaning flossing and brushing your teeth. If you’ve never incorporated flossing into your routine, remember to floss before you brush for more effective cleaning. Various flossing products are on the market, so experiment until you find one that works for you, and one you can stick with.

2. Reduce stain producers

Not surprising, foods and beverages we tend to enjoy the most are the very culprits that can stain our teeth’s enamel. Cola, coffee, and wine can do a number on our teeth as well as starchy foods, foods with tomato sauce, and fruits like berries. A prudent approach to reduce the likelihood of staining is to cut back a little, and when you do partake, drink water along with foods and beverages that can stain your teeth.

3. Make preventative dental care a priority

Despite our best efforts to keep our teeth clean and as white as possible, teeth will stain over time, but that’s where preventative dental care comes in. If you aren’t having dental problems, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit the dentist for a checkup and professional teeth cleaning.

Professional teeth cleanings take care of the things like removing plaque and stains that we can’t do as well at home. We recommend scheduling preventative dental care every six months. More frequent checkups may be necessary if you have a history of oral health problems or need to address issues like cavities or gum disease. Making preventative dental care a priority will help keep your teeth white, beautiful, and healthy. It’s the perfect win-win.

4.  Brighten your smile with teeth whitening

Special occasions like a reunion or wedding may inspire you to consider teeth whitening to brighten your smile. The Dentists at North Cypress help patients capture their runway smile using the KöR Whitening system.

If you’ve ever tried teeth whitening, you know there are endless treatments and DIY products. Regardless of the service or product, they all work off the same principle: a whitening agent composed of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide gets applied to the teeth, and a chemical reaction lifts stains or discoloration. 

The rub is that all teeth whiteners aren’t created equal, and some products may have lost their oomph by the time they’ve reached the store or the dentist’s office. That’s what makes KöR Whitening different. KöR Whitening is the first company to institute door to refrigeration for their teeth whitening products.

KöR Whitening is an in-office treatment that uses a proprietary whitening gel that can brighten your smile up to 16 shades lighter in a single treatment session. With KöR Whitening, you can maintain your bright smile using their at-home whitening system. 

To find out if KöR Whitening is right for you, contact The Dentists at North Cypress and give us a call today or schedule an appointment online.