Ok, so i just noticed that my mouth and teeth are not as clean as i would like them to be, what can i do to help them to look clean without having to go to the dentist?

Colgate!

Hydrogen peroxide. Use it like a mouthwash.

@cyndihugs Well, i think brushing includes Colgate
@aprilsimnel Are you serious?

use baking soda with lemon and put it on your tooth brush and brush

Be sure to floss every day to remove food and bacteria from between your teeth.

My roommate does it every single day. I don’t have that issue, so I don’t do it myself. Her teeth are rather white. I think she may dilute a capful of the stuff with a handful of water.

I second the peroxide. But dilute it 50/50 with water. I used it for week and my friend commented on how white my teeth are. I wouldn’t use it everyday. Maybe a week every month. At least that is what my dentist suggested.

Brush

@2late2be ; It does work. Just don’t swallow.

@aprilsimnel @johnpowell
This peroxide, does it make the teeth sensitive? Dissolving the outer layer of the tooth sounds rough, especially since I get very sensitive teeth from lemon.

Want to try it. I drink far to much tea and use tobacco.

@oratio ; try it once, then brush with synsodyne. If it makes you to sensitive stop doing it. (Dilute it though, since you’re already sensitive.)

@Judi Ok, thanks.

Clean = brush and floss at least after every meal. If you mean white, there are many whiteners on the market, but there are also a lot of warnings on the internet about them.

If you don’t want a big hassle, you can get a toothpaste with built-in baking soda and peroxide. Arm & Hammer has a variety of these based on your needs (sensitive teeth, whitening, gingivitis, etc.) and I’ve used them with much success.

I’ve used the peroxide before. It does make my teeth sensitive, but not terribly. It helps your gums stay healthy and helps get rid of the plaque that can build up on your teeth.

You can use baking soda without lemon and still get good results if you have a sensitivity to lemon. It makes your teeth feel nice. Continue brushing regularly with toothpaste, but add in brushing with baking soda.

Definitely floss daily.

Be careful about the foods you eat, they will stain you teeth – just like sodas, teas and coffee. Also, when you drink soda – especially something like Sprite – use a straw! They break down the enamel in your teeth and will appear as faded out spots or even black, though they are not black.

Floss, floss and floss! Also, brush your teeth within 30 minutes of drinking or eating something very sugary.

@cak, I don’t understand. What difference does a straw make? What category does “something like Sprite” include? And what is it that breaks down the enamel?

@Jeruba Soft drinks, especially light-colored drinks, and canned iced tea appear to “aggressively” harm teeth, new research shows.

To be specific… Colgate Total plus Whitening Toothpaste. It has Triclosan that kills bacteria for hours after brushing. Even after eating, my teeth still feel clean, and I’ve gotten good checkups from my dentist in the 5 years I’ve been using it.

@hearkat That is the toothpaste I use. I go a bit overboard though. I brush at least 6 times a day. I haven’t had a cavity in years.

@chyna: Holy cannolis!! 6 times a day?!?!!? Were you traumatized by a dentist in your early years, or something?

As a matter of fact, I was. He drilled without anesthesia and would not let my mom in the room. I was just a kid and his assistant held me down. I never went back to him after that, and years later found out he was an alcoholic that drank on the job.

@chyna: I figured it would have to be something like that for you do be so hyper-diligent! I am sorry to hear that you had such a terrible experience, though!

@hearkat I carry a toothbrush and paste in my purse, in my car, at work and of course at home. I am not OCD or anything with the rest of my life, just my teeth.

I read about a specific diet that people follow, so they never have to brush their teeth. Totally blew my mind and grossed me out
I use a Sonicare toothbrush, it’s helped me a lot. I also floss after almost every meal, and use mouthwash (when I remember!)
I just got my teeth cleaned recently, and we don’t have dental insurance. A general cleaning is really not expensive. Just ask not to see the dentist and no xrays. It’s cheaper.

@Jeruba – The straw cuts down the exposure to the teeth, it’s just a way to lower the possible damage to the teeth.

YARNLADY linked some research, a lot of what I put down is also what I’ve learned from my dentist. (my incredibly picky dentist…to go along with his very picky patient!)

I always use a straw, no matter what I drink. My dentist told me it cuts down on cavities. It helps with my sensitivity as well.

A straw will be good for your teeth, but bad for the wrinkles you will get around your mouth. Smokers get them too.
I used to brush about 5 times a day but my dentist said too much is just as bad as too little.

u bitches be trippin’...straws, 6 times a day…
2 x a day is sufficient
This guys a real pro