Dr. Cindy Flanagan

While you're sprucing up your closets and working on the backyard, don't forget about something else that needs a little TLC after a long winter: your teeth.

Scrub away stains.

Warm winter beverages like coffee, tea and hot chocolate may have left behind stains. If the stains are light and just on the surface of the tooth, you may be able to get them off with my favorite homemade whitening solution:

Place 1 teaspoon of baking soda in a cup and add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide. Brush your teeth with this paste, then brush again with your normal toothpaste. Do this every day for a couple of weeks, and you should start to notice a difference. If the stain has penetrated the surface of the tooth, your dentist will able to offer you other whitening options.

Get a thorough cleaning.

Spring is also a good time to schedule a dental cleaning if you haven't had one in six months or more. People tend to be a little lax about flossing in the winter, so more tartar or plaque might have built up on your teeth. You'll want to get it scraped off at the dentist's office before it leads to gum disease.

Don't let allergies affect your teeth.

Another springtime reminder: If you'll be taking an antihistamine to help relieve pollen allergies, pick up some sugarless breath mints with xylitol. Antihistamines tend to dry your mouth, making it a breeding ground for bacteria -- which leads to bad breath and tooth decay. Sucking on these sugar-free mints will help get your saliva flowing, and the xylitol actually fights cavities.

Dr. Cindy Flanagan is a Houston-based doctor of dental surgery. She is also the spokesperson for the Academy of General Dentistry.

 

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Health - Spring-clean Your Teeth