3 Ways to Promote a Whiter, Healthier Smile

As winter melts into spring, it’s time to pull out your whites. That’s not just true of fashion (if you adhere to the old rule to not wear white after Labor Day). It also applies to your smile.

If you want to lean into spring with your brightest teeth possible, taking certain steps makes a big difference. Between our expertise in both teeth whitening and cosmetic dentistry, Gemini Master-Patel, DMD, and our team can offer the guidance you need. 

We’ve teed up our top three tips to get a whiter, healthier smile. You can tackle some of these tips at home and in your daily life. But if you want a truly bright smile this spring, don’t hesitate to visit us for teeth whitening at Riverside Dental in Yonkers and Thornwood, New York.

1. Stay on top of your oral hygiene

Brushing and flossing daily helps you keep your smile as bright as possible. Regular oral hygiene removes plaque from your teeth. If you don’t address that plaque with a toothbrush or floss, though, it can harden into tartar. You can’t remove tartar deposits at home. You’ll need a professional teeth cleaning to get rid of them.

That means you’re stuck with that buildup on your teeth until your next dental appointment. And because tartar can look yellow, brown, or even black, it doesn’t do your smile any favors. 

2. Watch what you drink

Certain substances can stain your teeth. If you want to keep your smile as bright as possible, try to limit your intake of the following: 

• Tea
• Coffee
• Cola
• Red wine
• Dark-colored fruit juice (e.g., cherry juice, cranberry juice)
• Energy drinks

If you can’t imagine life without your iced coffee, soda, or other drink of choice, use a straw. The straw limits how much the liquid comes into contact with your teeth, protecting their whiteness. 

Some foods can similarly stain your teeth. Red sauces, balsamic vinegar, and soy sauce are all particularly problematic. 

3. Explore teeth whitening

You can be diligent in your oral hygiene and mindful of what you eat and still see your teeth darken through the years. That’s because as you get older, the white enamel on the exterior of your teeth thins. This allows the yellow dentin underneath to show through. 

Between staining substances, aging, and other causes of a less-than-pearly smile, you might want a little help. That’s why Dr. Master-Patel and our team offer teeth whitening. With an in-office treatment or take-home whitening kits, we can help you get your teeth dazzling. 

For support with everything from your oral health to the right type of whitening for your smile goals, we’re here. Call the Riverside Dental office nearest you or book your appointment online today.