Dentists tell us we should brush after every meal, but sometimes it's just not possible. The (delicious) alternative: Eat strawberries for dessert. The red fruit has a high percentage of folate, which naturally exfoliates and cleans your teeth, says Irwin Smigel, DDS and creator of SuperSmile.
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How to Whiten Teeth Fast: Don't Brush Your Teeth Too Much
Or too hard. Coffee, wine and tea are common teeth-staining culprits, and trying to scrub them off too hard with your toothbrush can also strip away your enamel, explains Yazdan. "The underlying dentin is yellow so the teeth become yellow." Sands adds that over-brushing can also cause your gums to recede.
However, poor oral hygiene also leads to yellow teeth. So it's crucial to brush efficiently to get off plaque, without stripping off your enamel. "The key is to spend at least two minutes brushing every surface of your teeth, up around your gums where most of the plaque accumulates," says Yazdan. She recommends using Plaque HD, a new color-changing toothpaste that shows you exactly where plaque is. Yazdan says it removes four times the plaque as regular toothpaste.
If you smile into the mirror and are self-conscious about your not-so-pearly-whites, you're probably wondering how to whiten teeth fast. Because, honestly, when you barely have the energy to remove your makeup at the end of the day, time is of the essence.
"The main culprits of yellow teeth are aging, smoking and dark foods or drinks such as coffee, red wine, black tea, colas, dark sauces and even various fruits like blueberries," says Dr. Kevin Sands, a celebrity cosmetic dentist who works with everyone from the Kardashians to Emma Stone. "These items are high in pigment-producing substances that stick to tooth enamel."
Don't worry, we're not asking you to give up your morning coffee or evening glass of wine in pursuit of whiter teeth. Because the stains that come from these pigmented foods and drinks are on the outer layer of your teeth, they can be removed, explains celebrity cosmetic dentist Dr. Desiree Yazdan MS, DDS.
Here, we've rounded up all the easy ways you can whiten teeth at home -- from quick teeth-whitening kits to natural teeth whitening ideas. So what are you waiting for? Your megawatt smile is waiting, and it only takes minutes to get whiter teeth.
