The cameras are out at Christmas time! Family get-togethers, work parties, and catch-ups with old friends means that numerous selfies and group photos will have you grinning from ear to ear. However, if you don’t feel confident in your teeth then these photo ops can be worrisome. What if your teeth look yellow, or gappy, or just unpleasant? We’re going to share with you our top tips on how to get white teeth this Christmas! 

Avoiding foods that stain

Christmas is the last time of the year to be monitoring your diet. We all work hard and we all want to let our hair down a little bit and treat ourselves, right? Well, it’s actually these treats that can be dulling your teeth’s whiteness. Common drinks like tea and coffee are rich in tannins, organic fruit material that comes from leaves, pulp, and fruit skins. These are released in the tea leaves and coffee beans, staining your teeth an unattractive brown or mottled colour. The same goes for our favourite festive drinks, mulled wine and red wines in general. Even white wines and fizzy drinks used in spirit-mixers are full of acids and sugars that wear away at your enamel, revealing your naturally yellow dentin beneath and creating a yellow-ish smile. Maintaining white teeth at Christmas means keeping an eye on the drinks we’re consuming to make sure we don’t stain our teeth!

Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening is obviously a very effective way of achieving white teeth for your Christmas party photos. There are two different types of teeth whitening services you might opt for: home tooth whitening and in-practice teeth whitening. For home teeth whitening, you simply take home a kit from our Carnforth dental practice and use the whitening trays and gels as instructed. You’ll need to wear the trays for a couple of hours each day (don’t worry, we’ll talk you through this but it’s really quite simple!) and you could achieve whiter teeth in no time at all! The second option we provide is in-practice teeth whitening for some deeper-set and more stubborn stains. Depending on your needs, we’ll find a way to brighten your smile before the festivities roll around.

Veneers

Veneers could be a great Christmas present to yourself as they tackle two different concerns – not only your teeth’s whiteness, but your teeth’s shape and appearance. Veneers are a strong cover for your teeth that are fitted with a sturdy dental adhesive. They are fixed to the front of your teeth to create a more uniform smile and are custom-made to your needs. Their colour is natural yet bright, and they help your teeth appear healthier and more even. They assist in closing gaps, creating level teeth, and giving your teeth more uniformity. Popularised by celebrities, veneers are now a readily available cosmetic dentistry treatment in Carnforth!

Dental care is very important at Christmas, what with all of the sweet treats, alcohol, and late nights inbound. Make sure you stay on top of your dental hygiene routines as the easiest way to achieve white teeth is to keep them healthy and clean. If you’d like to achieve white teeth for Christmas or are thinking of a last-minute check-up, enquire online or call 01524 735 431 to book your dentist appointment today. Most of all, have a wonderful Christmas from all of the team at Viva Dental in Lancashire.