You have bought a teeth whitening kit, or maybe your just thinking about buying a teeth whitneing kit, but how can you improve your whitening results?

The demand for whiter, healthier teeth from TV, magazine's, superstars, health organisations and the like is constantly thrown in our faces - do not dare smile if your teeth are yellow! 

Teeth whitening sales continue to soar and remain the no.1 cosmetic service according to a recent American survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

With home teeth whitening kits such as Crest Whitening Strips costing from $60 - $100 and dental whitening anything from $750 - $1200 you need to make sure you get the best possible results

There are easy dietary changes you can make that will IMPROVE your tooth shade.

How To Improve Your Teeth Whitening Results

In a moment we will look at the food & drinks that may not make you smile....so often.

However lets chomp our way through some cracking foods for your pearly whites, AND YOUR WAIST LINE...

The best foods to eat that replicate the effects of a toothbrush are...

• apples
• fresh green beans
• carrots
• cauliflower
• celery....

.....other crunchy fruits and vegetables help ‘whiten’ by gently scrubbing the teeth according to New York Cosmetic Dentist Timothy Chase -  thats why sliced raw veggies are a great snack.

As an added bonus fibrous fruits and vegetable are low in calories, high in nutrients which massage the gums and promote blood flow to help keep gum tissues healthy.

They also increase the flow of saliva - now you need this stuff, as this protects oral health.

• Strawberries and oranges work in a slightly different way as they ‘polish’ the teeth. Strawberries in particular also contain an enzyme called malic acid that helps keep teeth whiter.

• Finally dairy foods such as cheese, yogurt and milk contain a type of lactic acid that help to prevent decay.

...So you get a double whammy,  Get Whiter Teeth & Lose Weight!

Now on the flip side lets look at food that typically stain your teeth...

Obviously high on the agenda are things like caffeine, tea, red wine, tobacco however lets look at some of the less obvious food & drink that many people consume and yet do not realise the ‘tooth stain’ implications...

Fizzy Drinks

Dark colored sodas are not only staining, but are also full of harmful phosphoric, citric acids and sugars that erode tooth enamel and cause tooth decay, which leads to a dull, ugly smile. Since most people like their soda cold, this creates further dental problems. Cold drinks make tooth enamel more porous and vulnerable to staining. If you’re not ready to give up your soda habit, then at least drink it through a straw, to minimize contact with your teeth.

Cranberry Juice

Cranberry juice and other dark colored fruit juices are highly pigmented and can cause yellowing of the teeth. Cranberry juice contains very high amounts of sugar in order to offset its natural bitter taste and as we all know, sugar isn’t very good for teeth. Drink it through a straw or rinse your mouth out with some water after drinking it. You could also switch to drinking white cranberry juice or other lighter colored fruit juices.

Iced Lolly’s

Popsicles are a colorful summertime favorite, but those dyes that color your lips and tongue funny colors are also staining your teeth. Plus, they’re full of sugar and the cold iciness opens up the porous surface of your tooth enamel, which causes even worse staining. If you want a sweet summer treat, try freezing some fresh fruit- frozen grapes are my favorite.

Soy Sauce

It may be good on rice, but it isn’t good on your teeth. Soy sauce sticks to teeth and its deep colored pigments can cause bad stains. So, go easy on the soy sauce, the next time you’re at the sushi bar and rinse your mouth out with some water or green tea after eating it.

Balsamic Vinegar

Balsamic vinegar is a lot like soy sauce- it is deeply pigmented, clings to teeth and causes tooth discoloration. You could pair it with lettuce, by drizzling it over your salad. Lettuce forms a protective barrier over teeth to help keep them free from stains. You could also switch to using a lighter colored vinegar.

Tomato Sauce / Tomatoes

Italian food would just be a bunch of tasteless carbs without it. Tomato sauce is highly acidic and much like soy sauce and balsamic vinegar, clings to teeth and causes stains. You could have a spinach salad before eating your pasta or pizza. Much like lettuce, spinach will form a protective film over your teeth, helping to keep them free from stains.

Blueberries

Blueberries are excellent for your overall health and are jam packed with nutrients and antioxidants, which are very helpful for maintaining strong and healthy teeth. However, that deep berry blue can cause deep staining on your teeth, so be sure to rinse your mouth out thoroughly with water.

KEY TIP TO REMEMBER:- One of the most important facts to remember (but often forgotten) is that you can only whiten your teeth back to their natural shade, whatever that was, as tooth shade is biological.