26 January 2023 , 13:19
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In the social media-driven age that we live in people can become pretty obsessed with the way they look, wanting to alter their appearance to fit an unattainable standard set by celebrities and influencers.
For some, this could include getting their teeth straightened or having them whitened.
If you've been considering whitening your teeth, it turns out there's an ideal time to do it, but it all depends on the months of the year.
This is according to a leading dentist who has explained why our teeth may seem to 'change' colour throughout the course of the year, looking darker and lighter at different times.
Dr Kasem shared his top dental tips with The MirrorDr Khaled Kasem, a chief orthodontist at Impress, told The Mirror: "It's really interesting because sometimes teeth contrast with our skin colour, so if you have darker skin it would appear that you have whiter teeth.
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"So in the summer for instance, when you've got a tan you might look like you have really white teeth.
"And if you're very pale you might look like you have darker teeth, especially in the colder months.
"However, some people do naturally just have darker teeth. There are many extrinsic and intrinsic factors that determine this, for instance, if you drink a lot of tea or coffee or red wine, these can stain the teeth and make them look darker.
"Also there are some medical conditions that can cause discolouration of the teeth and even if you try and whiten them it won't help."
On the subject of whitening, the expert claims it isn't worth whitening your teeth during the summer months when your teeth may already be looking whiter than usual.
Instead, it's better to do this in the cooler months, especially in winter.
Dr Kasem adds that if you're having issues with staining on your teeth you should ensure you are brushing correctly twice a day for two minutes and see an oral hygienist every six months to get a professional polish and remove stains.
There are also polishing toothbrush heads for electric toothbrushes that you can buy, however, these can be quite harsh on the teeth so experts recommend only using these once a week.
This comes after the dentist shared the correct technique for flossing teeth, saying how you should go up and down with the floss, not side to side.
Do you have a tip to share? We want to hear all about it. Email courtney.pochin@mirror.co.uk
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