Brighten Your Smile with Whitening Toothpastes

When most of us meet someone, the first thing we notice may not be their eyes, hair, or figure. It's their smile. A genuine and beautiful smile says more about a person than almost anything else. But not everyone is blessed with flawless white teeth by genetics. Our teeth can be whitened (and straightened) by dentists and orthodontists, but the price of that may be out of reach, and even dental insurance rarely covers cosmetic procedures like whitening. There are plenty of at-home treatments available, from bleaches to gel trays to white strips. But the simplest and most affordable way to gradually whiten your teeth is probably with whitening toothpastes.

Before taking a look at those whitening gels and pastes, let's look at some of the causes. Some are things we can do nothing about, like genetics (I didn't inherit my father's cavity-less, straight white teeth; I got my mother's yellowing and cavity-prone teeth, despite being a "Crest kid" from the time I first had teeth), an antibiotic called tetracycline used in childhood, and some antihistamines and other medications in childhood or adulthood. While we know that fluoride can help teeth stay strong and clean, did you know that too much fluoride (or iron) can also cause staining?

Other causes are things we may eat or drink. My favorite berries can cause staining, as can that morning cup of coffee or black tea. Red wine can also cause tooth staining. Dentists say that anything that stains a white tee shirt will stain your teeth. The worst culprit is nicotine, whether you get your fix through smoking or chewing. (It's also bad for your heart and lungs, and can cause cancer and heart disease, among other illnesses, so you have plenty of reasons to stop using it!). Dentists also say that the best way to keep these foods and drinks from staining is to brush immediately after using them.

Whitening toothpastes come in a range of prices. The most expensive is Supersmile Professional Whitening (at this writing, $20.99 at drugstore.com), and the least expensive is probably Gleem, currently $2.19 at drugstore.com. But the best selling are Rembrandt ($6.99 at drugstore.com), Crest 3D White ($3.29 to $4.29, depending on size), and for sensitive teeth, Sensodyne Pronamel Gentle Whitening ($5.49). To whiten your teeth, brush at least twice a day, but it's best to brush after you eat almost anything (Colgate Wisp disposable toothbrush with gel in it works well if you're not at home). Flossing, something that most people admit to skipping, really should be done once every day, not just when you feel like it or something is stuck between your teeth!

It's important to brush for at least two minutes; most people who are trying to make that two minutes often underestimate the time, so find something like a song that you can sing in your head that lasts two minutes, or use a timer. It's also vital to brush all the outer surfaces of each tooth (the floss will get between them; so will "isoactive" toothpastes that foam in your mouth). Just as important, though, is to use a soft brush and not try to scrub your teeth. Excessive or too vigorous brushing can erode your teeth's enamel, and many whitening toothpastes contain abrasives like calcium carbonate or silica, which can also erode enamel. So brush them gently, or you risk losing enamel, and the dentin beneath is much more susceptible to staining and to causing pain.

Another way to help your teeth stay their whitest is to keep saliva flowing in your mouth. Not all of us produce enough saliva, and many medications cause a dry mouth. If that sounds like you, chew on a sugar-free gum, or suck on sugar-free mints. You can drink water all day, which is also good for your body, but if that's not enough, there are also saliva-producing products like those by Biotene (gum, mouth spray, and more).

Also, be aware that while all of these things can make your teeth whiter than they are, not everyone can have the shining white smiles of celebrities. Those teeth, if not genetic, are created by veneers or expensive whitening procedures, and even if you can afford those, you may not want to undergo them. Keep your smile as white as you can, keep your breath fresh with toothpaste, mouthwash, and sugar-free mints, and the first impression you make will be a brighter one.

(Sources: http://www.yourwhiteningteeth.com/ , http://www.yourwhiteningteeth.com/best-whitening-toothpaste/ , http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/slideshow-10-secrets-to-whiter-teeth, http://www.whiteteethsolution.com/ , http://www.whiteteethsolution.com/teeth-whitening-dangers.html)