Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Ensuring good oral hygiene
• Part 2 of 3: Whitening your teeth with over-the-counter products
• Part 3 of 3: Whitening your teeth with home remedies
• Tips
• Warnings

Do you want a pearly white Hollywood smile, but you don't know how to start? It is important to visit your dentist first and ask for advice.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Ensuring good oral hygiene

1. Brush your teeth regularly. This is the most important step, so don't skip it. You should brush your teeth three times a day, after every meal.
   • Make sure to brush all surfaces of your teeth completely. These are all the places your toothbrush can reach: the outside, inside, and chewing surfaces of your teeth.
   • Hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against your gum line, and gently massage this area with your toothbrush to make sure you clean it properly. Don't apply too much pressure as you can damage your gums.
   • Brush your teeth for two minutes.
2. Use dental floss before or after brushing your teeth. This helps to remove plaque and bacteria and keeps your teeth clean and shiny. Floss your teeth at least once a day.
   • Flossing cleans an additional 33% of the tooth surface that you can't reach with a toothbrush.
   • Flossing also removes plaque before it hardens and turns to tartar. This will keep your teeth looking cleaner and healthier.
   • To floss your teeth as best you can, grab a piece of floss about 12 inches long and wrap it around both of your index fingers. Keep at least 5 cm of floss free between your fingers. Slide the floss between all the places between your teeth and floss from the top part of your tooth down. Repeat this two or three times to make sure all plaque is removed.
3. Use mouthwash regularly. Mouthwash can help keep your mouth and teeth clean. Some mouthwashes also have bleaching properties, but this depends on the brand of mouthwash you are buying. Read the packaging for more information.
4. Visit your dentist regularly. This is necessary to maintain good oral hygiene. Your dentist can give you additional information and advice appropriate to your situation.

Part 2 of 3: Whitening your teeth with over-the-counter products

1. Try a whitening toothpaste. Such toothpaste generally only whitens your teeth superficially. Some whitening toothpastes contain stronger chemicals that can also whiten the deeper layers of your teeth.
   • These toothpastes can lighten the color of your teeth by about one shade. Some prescription remedies, on the other hand, can lighten your teeth by three to eight shades. Ask your doctor which of these remedies are possible for you.
2. Use a bleaching mouthwash. Such a remedy can help freshen your breath and improve the color of your teeth. Because such a remedy only comes into contact with your teeth briefly, it may therefore be less effective than bleaching strips and gels, which are discussed below.
3. Find out more about bleaching strips and gels. These are products that contain hydrogen peroxide, which chemically whitens your teeth. In general, you use these remedies for about 30 minutes in a row (the instructions vary by brand and method). You do this twice a day for several weeks. The final result should remain on display for several months. These are some of the most effective over-the-counter remedies for whitening your teeth.
4. Talk to your dentist to get additional advice and learn more about treatments your dentist can perform in his or her practice.
   • Treatments that your dentist carries out in his or her practice are more expensive, but they are also more effective.
   • Your dentist uses a hydrogen peroxide solution that is significantly stronger and therefore more effective.
   • The tools used to apply the agents to your teeth can be specially adapted to the shape of your mouth and teeth. They will be made so that the bleaching agent gets on as much of your teeth as possible, and the other parts of your mouth suffer as little damage as possible from the bleaching agent.
   • Your dentist will also be able to use his or her professional knowledge to give you advice on oral hygiene appropriate to your situation.

Part 3 of 3: Whitening your teeth with home remedies

1. Talk to your dentist before trying home remedies. You may be trying to get out of an expensive dental appointment, but it can cost you more money in the long run and cause a lot of pain if you try something that damages your teeth or gums. Even a phone call to your dental office to find out if your chosen home remedy is safe is a good idea.
   • It is risky to whiten your teeth at home without consulting your dentist first. You can damage your teeth or mouth.
2. Whiten your teeth with baking soda. Put some toothpaste on your toothbrush and then sprinkle a little baking soda on it. Brush your teeth with this. Baking soda helps remove stains from your tooth enamel. This is the outermost layer of your teeth. Do this step regularly and you will be well on your way to having pearly white teeth for the rest of your life.
3. Whiten your teeth with hydrogen peroxide. Mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide together to make a kind of toothpaste. Brush your teeth with this, but don't do this too often.
   • Use a solution of 3% hydrogen peroxide in your mixture. Hydrogen peroxide is the active ingredient in many over-the-counter whitening agents for your teeth. It works through a process known as "oxidation". This is a chemical reaction that helps whiten your teeth.
4. Rinse your mouth with coconut oil for 10 to 15 minutes. Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which can help prevent tooth discoloration from bacteria. This may not sound great, but if you try it you will notice that it doesn't taste too bad.

Tips

• Bleaching your teeth too often can wear down enamel and weaken your teeth. Therefore, taking precautions (brushing your teeth and going to the dentist regularly) is better for the health of your teeth in the long run.
• Always brush your teeth after eating or drinking something sweet.
• Do not apply any products to your teeth that you do not know are good or bad for your teeth. Always ask your dentist for advice first.
• Don't drink coffee, cola and beer. These drinks are known to stain your teeth. If you do choose to drink them, drink them through a straw so that the liquid comes into contact with your teeth as little as possible.

Warnings

• Note that the teeth whitening methods described in this article work best for people with healthy teeth that are slightly yellow. This discoloration can be remedied with the above techniques.
• If you have dental problems, such as fillings or gum disease, consult your dentist before proceeding.
• Bleaching your teeth can make them very sensitive.