In a world of Instagram and selfies, a great smile is everything! After all, the perfect winged liner, highlight and contour have got nothing on a great set of pearly whites. But teeth whitening can be pretty expensive, and it’s not something you want to run to your dentist for every now and then. So what do you do then to keep your teeth white and healthy? Turns out it’s pretty simple really.
Here are 11 everyday habits that will help you maintain perfectly white and healthy teeth.
1. Rub a lemon/orange peel on your teeth. The citric acid in these peels helps remove stains.
2. Limit the caffeine. Regular consumption of tea, coffee and wine will eventually stain your teeth. If you really are a caffeine addict, try using a straw so you limit contact with your teeth.
3. Have you seen those viral videos where you drop a tooth in a bottle of Coca-Cola, and it dissolves in a week’s time? Well, that’s what aerated drinks do. They gradually erode your enamel and expose your teeth to food stains, especially haldi.
4. Dilute apple cider vinegar with water, and swish it around in your mouth for a few minutes. ACV is known to remove toxins and stains from the teeth.
5. Consume a calcium-rich diet! Milk, cheese and yogurt help strengthen your teeth.
6. Activated charcoal is known to remove toxins and stains from your teeth. Dip your toothbrush in some charcoal powder, and brush those stains away!
7. It goes without saying that you must floss at least once a day! This will keep your gums healthy, as well as remove all the dirt stuck between your teeth, making them look cleaner.
8. Oil pulling is another extremely effective way to keep your gums healthy and remove stains from your teeth. To know more about it, click here.
9. Rinse your mouth with a tablespoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide and 1 tablespoon of water, and watch it work its magic! This chemical is great for a variety of stain removal techniques, you can read more about it – here.
10. Chew gum after every meal in order to remove trapped food particles. If you’ve had a meal consisting of onions and garlic, this will help you combat bad breath as well!
11. Turns out brushing and flossing every day are just not enough. Visit your dentist every six months for a thorough cleanup.