We all want whiter teeth. Stained teeth can make you feel self-conscious, nervous, and overall bad about your appearance. In order to get those pearly whites, it takes consistent upkeep and developing great habits that you stick with forever. However, there are also some instances when you need quicker results.

Maybe you have a big event coming up like a wedding or business meeting and you want your teeth to look their absolute best. Whatever the reasoning, it is possible to get whiter teeth in just a week. Make the following changes and you should start seeing results quicker than you may think.

teeth whitening

1: Avoid Teeth Staining Foods

The first change that you’ll have to make is also the most difficult for most people. We grow accustomed to eating certain foods that can easily stain teeth and are bad for oral health overall. There are some well-known culprits like coffee and cigarettes, but there are also foods that can damage your teeth as well.

Some of the things you should stay away from are sticky candies/treats, sugar filled cereal, and artificially colored foods. All of these can discolor your teeth and make them look unappealing. Also, continuing to eat these foods during your teeth whitening week will make all of the other tips less effective. In addition to not eating these foods for a week, you should also decrease your overall consumption of them as well for long term teeth whitening.

2: Peroxide + Baking Soda Toothpaste

Two of the most powerful ingredients used to whiten teeth are baking soda and peroxide. The reason they are so effective is because baking soda removes and lighten stains. It sort of bleaches the teeth, giving them a much whiter appearance. So even for the stains that don’t get completely removed, they are at least lightened up a bit. Peroxide is great because it contains chemicals that attack plaque and remove stains.

3: Start Using Whitening Strips

If you haven’t hopped onto the teeth whitening strips craze yet, then it’s time you do. The higher quality strips have been shown to have tremendous results when it comes to improving the look of your teeth. But it’s key to pick a reputable strip. You probably won’t notice much difference in your teeth if you’re using whitening strips from the dollar store. 

4: Use a Mouthwash That Whitens Teeth

The main feature a lot of people tend to look for in mouthwash is the ability freshen breath. That’s important, but you can also get mouthwash that’s aimed at removing stains and whitening teeth. They can kill the germs that cause bad breath and also help remove the stains on your teeth at the same time.

A popular option for mouthwash is Listerine’s Total Care Plus Whitening Mouthwash. It is a very intense product however, so be warned. Use it as directed and you should get some great results quickly.