Following the example of Hollywood movie stars, having white teeth has become a beauty ideal for many. Unfortunately, not everyone is blessed with pearly white teeth. In addition, your teeth can become discolored as you get older. Fortunately, there is a lot that can be done to prevent this. And if your teeth are already discolored, you can do a lot to make them appear cleaner and therefore whiter. It is not always necessary to have your teeth professionally whitened, to have veneers (porcelain shields) placed on them or to brush them with a special whitening toothpaste. After all, all these methods also have disadvantages. Therefore, first resort to natural methods to keep your teeth cleaner and appear whiter.
Contents:
- Eat “natural whiteners” for your teeth
- Limit the use of foods that discolor your teeth
- Cosmetic tricks to make your teeth look whiter
- You can get whiter teeth without bleaching them or applying veneers
Eat “natural whiteners” for your teeth
Certain vegetables and fruits are natural whiteners for your teeth. The best known are strawberries. Strawberries whiten your teeth naturally due to the fact that they contain vitamin C (which removes plaque) and a natural abrasive that removes stains.
Other crunchy fruits and vegetables like apples and celery are also natural whiteners.
Limit the use of foods that discolor your teeth
Because prevention is always better than cure, it is good to prevent your teeth from discoloring (even more) by avoiding or limiting as much as possible foods that discolor your teeth. Coffee, tea and wine are common culprits that stain your teeth. However, there are more.
Berries
The deep color pigments in berries stick to your enamel and leave a film on your teeth.
Because berries are so healthy (and of course tasty), it is wise to eat them nevertheless. To prevent damage, you can drink a glass of water or rinse your mouth after eating berries.
Balsamic vinegar
Balsamic vinegar stains your teeth because it is acidic and dark colored. So use it in moderation in salads, always incorporate it into a generous amount of lettuce and make sure you drink enough water to dilute the vinegar in your mouth.
Ketchup and tomato sauce
The fact that eating a lot of ketchup or tomato sauce can discolor your teeth will come as a surprise to many people. The reason why ketchup and tomato sauce appear in this list is because they are acidic and brightly colored, which discolors your teeth and can cause dental erosion (wear and tear of the tooth enamel). If possible, eat these foods less often.
Table acid
Examples of pickles are pickles, cucumbers and pearl onions in vinegar. Table acid is also harmful to your teeth because the acid in it can lead to dental erosion, causing bacteria to discolor your teeth.
Crackers
Crackers are also among the foods that discolor your teeth. Why? Because many crackers contain refined carbohydrates (including white flour) that turn into sugar, thus creating a breeding ground for bacteria that discolor your teeth.
Beetroot
Of course, it’s no surprise that the deep red color of beetroot also turns your teeth red. You can limit the damage by brushing your teeth after eating beetroot. However, it is not recommended to brush your teeth after eating beetroot in vinegar. Because the acid temporarily softens your enamel.
Coffee and tea
Don’t drink too much tea or coffee. The pigments in coffee and tea yellow your teeth.
Cosmetic tricks to make your teeth look whiter
Use optical illusions by using certain colors of makeup and makeup in a way that enhances and accentuates the whiteness of your teeth.
The right color lipstick
This uses knowledge of color analysis. Avoid lipstick with a yellow undertone, and instead apply red or pink lipstick with a blue undertone.
The right color eyeshadow and eyeliner
Use eye shadow in cool shades like purple or green on your eyelids, or apply blue eyeliner around your eyes. This helps to draw attention away from yellower teeth and thus creates an optical illusion of whiter teeth.
A layer of Vaseline on your teeth
With a layer of Vaseline on your teeth, you apply a kind of dirt-repellent layer to your teeth, so that you prevent discoloration of your teeth – for example by drinking a lot of coffee.
For ladies, this trick is useful to prevent lipstick from getting on your teeth. It is also ideal for a night out or if you have to have your picture taken because it makes your teeth shine beautifully.
Accentuate your face with a bronzer
A final method to suggest whiter teeth using makeup is to apply a bronzer to your face. Apply a bronzer that is a shade darker than the color of your skin under your cheekbones and on the bridge of your nose, and blend it for a natural result. Do it subtly, the intention is that you see a light sun-tanned glow.
You can get whiter teeth without bleaching them or applying veneers
In most cases, it is not necessary to resort to chemicals to achieve whiter teeth. Placing veneers is also irreversible because a layer of the enamel is ground away. Veneers should therefore only be used as a last resort.
Eating “natural whiteners,” limiting sugar and foods that cause staining or yellowing, and using cosmetic tricks are all tried and true and less invasive ways to achieve whiter teeth.
Finally, it goes without saying that none of these tricks will help if you don’t brush your teeth with toothpaste at least twice a day (before breakfast and before going to bed).
