5 Tools You Can Use at Home to Improve Your Smile

While everyone wants healthy teeth, most people are also concerned with the appearance of their smiles. Fortunately, you can enhance the look of your teeth at home with the following tools:

1. Straws
   

   Certain beverages can slowly turn your teeth yellow or brown. This includes tea, coffee and red wine. Ideally, you should limit your consumption of these problematic drinks. That said, if you do choose to partake, use a straw as often as you can. This reduces the impact dark liquids can have on your teeth, so your smile will stay whiter.
   

2. Toothbrush
   

   According to the American Dental Association, when it comes to good dental hygiene, it's less about the brush and more about the brusher. If you thoroughly brush your teeth for at least two minutes twice a day, you will reduce your chances of tooth decay and staining. That said, certain types of toothbrush can make people more enthusiastic about brushing. If your brushing habits are less than stellar, try using an electric toothbrush to see if it will help motivate you to regularly clean and polish your teeth.
   

3. Toothpaste
   

   If you're looking for a way to brighten up your smile, a whitening toothpaste may be able to help. These contain abrasive additives and chemical agents designed to lighten stains and polish teeth. While they can be effective for certain people with minor stains; whitening toothpastes aren't powerful enough to affect significant stains. They can also worsen tooth sensitivity in certain people. If you do decide to try a whitening toothpaste, be sure to choose one with the ADA seal of approval, which demonstrates that the product has been tested for its claims and quality.
   

4. Oral irrigator
   

   These products are designed to blast water between the teeth to loosen food and plaque in hard-to-reach areas. In concert with regular flossing, they can help prevent cavities and staining in the visible areas between teeth. Just remember that an oral irrigator should not replace regular toothbrushing or flossing. Instead, you should view it as a supplemental tool to enhance your smile.
   

5. Teeth whiteners
   

   The best way to brighten your smile is to visit your dentist, who can provide powerful in-office treatments that whiten teeth by several shades. Your dentist can also provide you with a custom-fit bleaching tray you can use at home. The tray allows you to use peroxide solutions to lighten your teeth. You can also try over-the-counter whitening drops or strips; however, don't expect to get the same type of results you would get from professional whitening treatments.

Sometimes, even our best efforts aren't enough to improve the aesthetic of our smiles. Whether it's misaligned teeth, gapped teeth or stains related to food, aging and genetics, some issues require attention from a professional dentist. If you have been unable to improve the appearance of your smile at home, visit your dentist to learn about professional cosmetic treatments. These days, dental professionals can use orthodontics, veneers and advanced whitening treatments to give patients the smiles they've always dreamed of.