Dear Flex, I need your advice on how to get my yellow teeth pearly white. I brush them a lot but it doesnt seem to be enough. I have even used baking soda, but that tastes like salt water and on top of that it did nothing. When I am brushing I scrub for like 30 minutes or more just to see if they will get white. Am I not brushing the right way or my teeth are just yellow. L.K., St. Catherine
Dear L.K., Our teeth go through a lot and we do not even realise it. Many of us will subject them to coffee, cola, cigarette smoke, alcohol, acidic juices and highly pigmented foods. Our teeth tell the tale in the form of stains.
Because it is hard to give up that one extra cup of coffee or drink one less can of coke, there are other things you can try to at least slow down the staining process. Use whitening toothpaste each time you brush. You can also use the whitening mouthwash after you brush.
It is quite possible, however, that you may need to get your teeth professionally whitened by a dentist, but the procedure is costly. Make an appointment to see one. You definitely should not be scrubbing excessively as it really does not do much and can actually harm your gum.