Fact: great teeth make you look like you’ve got money and yellow teeth make you look much older. Remember, on Ten Years Younger they always whiten the teeth! Chemical teeth whitening is much cheaper than it used to be and deals are often available on discount sites like Groupon, but it’s still not cheap and involves all sorts of nasty chemicals, so if you prefer to keep things more natural there’s a lot you can do at home to achieve that big white Carrie Bradshaw smile.
- Rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after every meal, or whenever you drink tea, coffee or Coke. (Caffeine is one of the main causes of stains.) Even if you can’t get to a bathroom sink, swill some water around your mouth and swallow.
- Red wine is another major cause of stains, so if that’s your tipple order a glass of water alongside when you’re at a restaurant or bar and take a mouthful from time to time.
- Try to brush your teeth after every meal and consider investing in an electric toothbrush as these remove way more plaque, (which holds stains), than conventional brushes. Keep a spare toothbrush in your office drawer for after lunch. Toothpastes that offer whitening might stop your teeth from getting more stained, though I’ve never found that they actually whiten them.
- Home whitening kits are reasonably priced and do a decent job. A course usually lasts about seven days and you get to wear a boxer’s gumshield too!
- Try to eat lots of crunchy foods, such as celery, apples and other similar fruits and vegetables – they produce a gentle rubbing action which helps to keep teeth clean.
A Simple Home Whitening Treatment
If you want a natural alternative to those commercial DIY bleaching kits, mix three teaspoons of baking soda with a teaspoon of table salt and brush the paste gently onto your teeth and gums twice a week, rinsing thoroughly afterwards. Tastes revolting but removes stubborn stains and brings the sparkle back to your smile.
For more tips on how to live stylishly on a shoestring budget go to www.skintinthecity.com
I posted about another DIY teeth whitener on my blog last Dec – http://www.thebest50years.com/2011/12/diy-7-minutes-to-whiter-teeth.html
All you do is swish daily with hydrogen peroxide. If you’re careful, you won’t even taste it much. But if you do, it’s not as nasty as baking soda! Also, my dental hygienist said it may help prevent gum disease.
Crystal recently posted..Are You Putting Off Living?
If you have the budget then get a dental treatment from your dentist, if not, then use the ones at home like baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, or even banana peel.