This guide serves to help you achieve pearly white teeth, even when you feel like your toddler’s chompers take priority.
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The Basics of White Teeth
Come on; we have all been there. You finish all 6,000 of your nightly tasks, and you’re finally comfy in bed when you realize you forgot to brush and floss.
On God’s green earth, there is no way that you are wiggly out of your warm comforters and risking waking up your newborn on your way to the bathroom. You tell yourself it’s OK to skip a night as you lower your sleep mask.
OK, I’m being dramatic to get your attention. As a dental professional for the last 15 years, I can definitely say it is OK to skip a night here and there (I have to insert here that oral health is so vital to your overall health, and it is recommended to brush 2x a day and floss 1x a day…blah..blah).
Whitening your teeth will also not replace any skipped brushing nights, BUT what I’m saying is, with the following tips and hacks, a skipped night won’t kill you! And addition to the recommended above protocol, you can have a bright white smile that helps you to feel your best.
1. Whitening Toothpaste
The first step to achieving white teeth is to use whitening toothpaste. With so many on the market, I know it can be overwhelming. Many whitening kinds of toothpaste can also be very abrasive, so this is something to consider when you are shopping around.
When looking at toothpaste, I tend to lean more towards ones that are more natural as it will be something you will be technically ingesting small portions of over an extended period.
Dr. Sheffields Natural Whitening Toothpaste is a tried and true natural option that I love! Not only does it work well for whitening, but it is cost-effective and packaged in recycled material. Another great option (and TikTok favorite) is the Lumineaux Teeth Whitening Toothpaste.
2. The Toothbrush Matters
I ALWAYS recommend an electric toothbrush for every patient, Especially if you are interested in whitening your teeth. The conjunction of the whitening toothpaste with the rotation of the electric toothbrush head will work together to remove existing stains and plaque while preventing further stains from accumulating.
Many dental professionals agree the Oral-B I.O Electric Toothbrush is BY FAR the best on the market right now. It has Bluetooth compatibility, which allows it to give you feedback about your brushing routine; Wild. This brush will cost you a pretty penny (totally worth it).
But, there are many other more affordable options, including my favorite, the BURST electric toothbrush (and it helps that it looks totally cute on your countertop).
3. Every Patients Favorite Activity
Alright, so now you have brushed (which is more than most people can say, trust me), it is time for the next step in your glowing smile journey. Everyone’s favorite…..FLOSS!
I don’t think there is any one floss that will actually whiten your teeth, but there are definitely brands that work a lot better to remove plaque and build-up which ensures a better canvas for whitening.
There are lots of good options for floss but you are going to want to purchase an “expandable” textured floss versus a smooth silky texture. The expandable floss expands when it comes in contact with saliva and works really well to grasp and pull out any build-up from in between your teeth. BURST expandable floss is a great choice for this category.
4. Dirty Mouth, Clean It Up
Now we are getting to the fun part. This step is one you can skip if you’d like as the contact time of the product is so minimal, but for me it’s the step I enjoy the most.
To really get that squeaky clean feeling before we apply the actual whitening agent you’re going to want to rinse with a mouthwash.
For me, the flavor of the product is the most important. Any whitening mouthwash is going to have at least a minimal taste of peroxide. I personally like that taste but is all personal preference. Lumineaux teeth whitening mouthwash or Therabreath whitening fresh breath oral rinse are great options here.
5. Make White Teeth, Whiter
Now for the star of the show, the whitening agent! As someone who has tried many whitening products over the years, there is a clear winner. Crest 3D Whitestrips, Vivid Plus will give you noticeable results in just a couple of days.
As a busy mom, I appreciate that you only have to use these strips for 30 minutes a day. I like to pop the strips on when I am about to take a shower or while I am getting ready for the day. These strips don’t slide around like many others I have tried and the taste is very mild.
*Side Note: you may experience some sensitivity on your teeth while using these strips but if it becomes painful I would stop using them immediately.
If you tend to have sensitive teeth already, The Zimba Flavored Teeth Whitening Strips are awesome as well. They come in a ton of different flavors and have an amazing grip on the teeth, which is an aspect that is very important on strips.
You will start noticing a bit of a difference in your teeth after a few days of use and then a major difference after about two weeks of consistent use. After you get your desired result you can use whitening strips 1-2 times a month for upkeep.
Final Thoughts
After following the previous protocol, be prepared for people to stop you in Target and ask how you keep your teeth so white. Remember, nice girls don’t gatekeep! Get their IG info and send them to my blog ๐ (humble plug).
I hope these tips, tricks, and recommendations for achieving white teeth and keeping them are helpful. Please let me know if you have any favorites of your own in the comments below!
“A smile is the best makeup any girl can wear”- Marilyn Monroe
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