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How do I get a Bright Smile?

By Bethany Keene
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 6,255
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The best way to get a bright smile is to have clean, white teeth. It is important to brush the teeth after every meal, or at least twice a day, and to floss daily. White teeth are universally flattering, and will always make a smile appear brighter. There are many options for whitening teeth at home on your own, or at the dentist.

Aside from brushing and flossing regularly, it is important to have your teeth cleaned every six months at the dentist. Using whitening toothpaste is a good start when trying to get a bright smile. In addition to toothpaste, there is also mouthwash meant to whiten teeth, as well as floss and even gum. These products work more slowly than professional whitening systems, but they can be a great way to whiten teeth over time, and maintain a nice bright smile without spending a lot of money.

If these things do not do enough to help you get a bright smile, you can look into more serious whitening options. There are many kits sold at drugstores that will whiten teeth at home, and they usually take just a few days to a few weeks to complete. The kits may come with strips to stick onto the teeth, trays to fill with whitening gel, or a gel that must be brushed on to the teeth a few times a day. These products will usually whiten teeth a few shades, and the results will last from six months to one year. Professional whitening at the dentist is another option. Though it is considerably more expensive, results are usually achieved within one or two sessions.

The active ingredient in most whitening kits is hydrogen peroxide, which can cause slight temporary sensitivity. Some people rinse their mouths occasionally with peroxide to achieve a similar whitening effect, but be sure not to swallow it. In addition, brushing your teeth once a week with baking soda can help whiten teeth and help you get a bright smile. Though it is often recommended online, never use strawberries or lemon juice to whiten teeth -- these acidic foods can strip enamel off the teeth, and cause irreversible damage.

One of the best ways to get a bright smile is to prevent yellowing in the first place. Coffee, tea, cola, smoking, and red wine can all stain the teeth, so these should be avoided as much as possible. Drinking through a straw can help prevent staining, as well as brushing your teeth relatively soon after you finish drinking. After drinking red wine, swish some water around in your mouth first to prevent the acid from damaging the enamel. Finally, a lipstick with blue undertones will make teeth appear whiter, but avoid lipsticks with warmer, yellow undertones.

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Discussion Comments
By Sporkasia — On Jun 18, 2014

Someone should tell baseball players that tobacco is not a bright smile product, and they should switch to sugarless gum to improve their smiles and to improve their health. Tobacco stains are the worst when you are talking about ruining a smile.

By Animandel — On Jun 17, 2014

@Laotionne - Your grandmother may use hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash because it is good at fighting germs as well as at whitening your teeth. Many people use hydrogen peroxide to combat bad cases of bad breath.

Some mouthwashes contain sugars and alcohol which can contribute to some cases of bad breath instead of getting rid of them. You don't have this problem with hydrogen peroxide. Like this article says, just be sure not to swallow if you do decide to use it.

By Laotionne — On Jun 16, 2014

My grandma keeps a bottle of hydrogen peroxide in her medicine cabinet in the bathroom. She says it is a good mouthwash. I thought it was just some wives tale. Until reading this article, I didn't know the hydrogen peroxide actually helped make your teeth whiter. I guess grandma knows what she is doing.

I always take sugarless gum with me. This is a good way to clean my teeth and freshen my breath after I eat, especially when I am away from home and can't just go to the bathroom and brush my teeth. On top of that, there are special bright smile teeth whitening chewing gums now, and they do a good job of cleaning and whitening your teeth and freshening your breath.

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