Everyone wants a beautiful smile, but discoloration can take away from that dream. Fortunately for you, there are many things you can do to achieve a whiter smile. As equally important as knowing what to do for a brighter smile, is knowing what not to do. 

What Should You Do?

There are several ways you can achieve a whiter smile. One of the most obvious methods is to have your teeth whitened by your cosmetic dentist. The procedure is safe and can be performed in-office in a short period of time. Professional teeth whitening tends to last longer than other methods. 

In addition to professional teeth whitening, there are things you can do at home to help keep your teeth white. For instance, snack on crunchy vegetables and fruits. Both are abrasive enough to help remove stains from your teeth and they are healthy for you. 

Another step you can take is to drink one cup of tea every day. Tea has properties that prevent bacteria and sugar from sticking to your teeth. As an added bonus, tea also contains a high amount of fluoride, which is good for protecting and strengthening your enamel.

You can protect your whitened smile further by avoid foods and beverages that stain. If you do drink a beverage that could potentially stain your teeth, use a straw. The less direct contact the beverage has with your teeth, the less likely it is to stain.

What Should You Not Do?

Some actions you can take to attempt to whiten your teeth can actually prove to be harmful in the long run. For instance, brushing with baking soda is a bad idea. Even though baking soda can help whiten your teeth, it is very abrasive. As a result, the enamel on your teeth can be damaged, which could leave your teeth more receptive to staining.

Some people have attempted to use vinegar and lemon to whiten teeth. Vinegar and lemon are extremely acidic and can actually damage the enamel. 

At-home whitening kits are a popular option for whitening teeth, but they could do more harm than good for some people. The ingredients in kits are not tailored made to each person who uses them. This can result in the solution being too strong, which could lead to enamel damage. 

There is also the possibility that you could leave the solution on too long, which also causes enamel damage. To avoid these problems and safely have your teeth whitened, always opt for the professional whitening offered by cosmetic dentists.