How to Whiten Your Teeth

Stained teeth in themselves are not really a health hazard, but they can be an annoyance. Even worse, they can prompt you to do damaging things in an attempt to whiten them.

Some stains can be removed by your twice-yearly cleaning, while others may require more aggressive treatment. Still other stains may be almost impossible to remove. The best way to keep your teeth their whitest is to avoid staining them in the first place.

A variety of factors can contribute to or cause stained teeth. Some of the more common tooth stainers are cigarette smoke, chewing tobacco, and habitual coffee and tea drinking. Extensive decay and dead nerves may also cause some discoloration. Plaque left by improper or infrequent flossing and brushing is a magnet for foods that stain (remember, plaque is sticky stuff). And, of course, age -- that notorious thief of beauty -- robs your teeth of their original brilliant white color, leaving them slightly yellowed.

Exposure to certain drugs (such as the antibiotic tetracycline) either in utero or as a small child, can leave teeth a pearly gray. Excessive childhood ingestion of fluoride may also cause the enamel to appear mottled and uneven. These types of stains are often the most difficult to remove, although they may improve somewhat with the aid of a professional bleaching.

The following are some definite tooth-whitening don'ts:

• Don't take aggressive measures on your own. You may end up compounding your problem. If your teeth are heavily stained or discolored, consult your dentist.
• Always consult your dentist before using an at-home whitening kit.
• Never use any amount of chlorine bleach on your teeth. It is highly toxic.
• Don't overdo it with "whitening" toothpastes. Some stain-removing toothpastes are quite abrasive and can wear off enamel if used too often. Consult your dentist or dental hygienist before using these toothpastes.

The foods you eat can have an affect on your oral health. Keep reading to learn more about eating an anticavity diet.