Although your permanent teeth are a bright white color when they first come in, they tend to darken in color over time. By the time you’re a young or middle-aged adult, they may take on a yellow or gray appearance.

Some of the common reasons of teeth staining include poor oral hygiene habits, smoking, drinking coffee or carbonated soda, taking certain medications, or frequently eating dark-colored food. If you have discolored teeth, you have probably tried searching for home remedies for teeth whitening. Below are some of the most common:

• Brushing your teeth with baking soda and lemon once a week. It’s important not to use this combination more frequently as it could wear away tooth enamel. When used properly, baking soda mixed with lemon can help your teeth be a slightly whiter shade.
• Drink coffee, tea, wine, or soda with a straw to prevent direct exposure to caffeine or dark colors. However, this isn’t always possible due to the temperature or beverages or a straw not being available.
• Eat more crunchy fruits and vegetables to remove excess bacteria and food from your teeth. Celery, apples, and carrots in particular can help keep your teeth whiter for longer.
• Make it a point to floss your teeth twice a day. While most people are great about brushing their teeth that often, they tend to forget about flossing. According to the American Dental Association, flossing is even more important than brushing because it removes the bacteria that can cause decay and discoloration.

Consider ZOOM! Professional Teeth Whitening

Dr. Saeed Ahmed of Alpha Dental is pleased to offer his patients the ZOOM! professional teeth whitening option. In just two appointments, you can see results that are up to eight times brighter than your current shade. At the first session, Dr. Ahmed takes measurements of your upper and lower rows of teeth so our laboratory can create customized mouth trays. When they are ready, we contact you to come in for a second appointment. This session lasts approximately 45 minutes while you sit with the bleaching gel in each of the mouth trays.

The major benefit of professional teeth cleaning is that it cleans your teeth beyond the top layer of enamel. This is due to the reaction between silica molecules and the chemicals present in the solution. With home remedies, the best you can hope for is a slight color improvement at the surface level of your teeth. If it seems like you have tried every home remedy imaginable, it may be time for ZOOM! teeth whitening at Alpha Dental. Please contact us with additional questions or to schedule your first appointment.