When your smile is healthy and bright, you can feel more confident and smile more often. Maintaining white teeth isn't automatic, though; it will take a joint effort between you and your dentist. Here are a few tips for preserving your dental enamel.

Keeping Your Teeth White

Regular Dental Hygiene

Dental plaque and tartar dull and yellow your teeth. To prevent this, you need to brush and floss regularly between visits to the dentist. Choose a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste, and make sure to brush all the surfaces of your enamel each time to prevent plaque from hardening in place.

Avoid Staining Foods

Many foods and drinks contain strong pigments which discolor your enamel. These include tomato sauce, curry, beets, strong food dyes, wine, coffee, and tea. By far the worst offender is soda, which contains high levels of sugar and acid in addition to its dyes.

Rinse After Eating

If you do eat or drink something which might stain your teeth, you can lessen the effects by drinking or rinsing with water immediately afterward. This dilutes the colors and acid produced by food and bacteria and ensures food debris isn't sitting on your enamel. Chewing dental gum is also a good option.

Teeth Whitening

When your teeth do get dingy, a professional teeth whitening treatment from your dentist is the most effective way to restore them. Using a peroxide-based bleach which is stronger than over-the-counter products, your dentist will show you how to quickly and precisely lighten your teeth, leaving your smile gleaming.

If you need professional teeth whitening in Dothan, AL, visit David A. Dauphin DMD. Serving clients throughout Dale, Henry, and Houston Counties, his office offers a caring environment, convenient hours, and flexible payment plans on their wide range of dentistry procedures to make it easier to access care. To make an appointment with the dentist, call (334) 794-3727 or send a message online.