• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Ask the dentist logo

Ask the Dentist

Health Begins in the Mouth | Dr. Mark Burhenne

  • Shop
  • Find a Dentist
  • Podcast
  • Newsletter
  • Dental Hygiene
  • Sleep
  • Nutrition
  • Cosmetic Dentistry
  • Orthodontics
  • Conditions
  • Procedures
Home › Cosmetic Dentistry › Teeth Whitening › Four Ways to Make Your Teeth Look Whiter (Without Whitening)

Four Ways to Make Your Teeth Look Whiter (Without Whitening)

Written by Mark Burhenne, DDS on April 22, 2010 (Updated: June 26, 2020)
Four Ways to Make Your Teeth Look Whiter (Without Whitening)
Four Ways to Make Your Teeth Look Whiter (Without Whitening)

Four simple ways that can have a big impact on making your teeth look whiter, naturally, and without whitening treatment.

Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • Change Your Lipstick
  • Get a Tan
  • Swish With Water After Your Morning Coffee
  • Replace Your Whitening Gum With a Toothbrush

You don’t necessarily have to whiten your teeth to make them appear whiter. By playing with contrast, minimizing staining, and developing strong oral hygiene habits, you can make your teeth look whiter without ever having to get them chemically whitened.

How to fake pearly whites:

Change Your Lipstick

The color in your lipstick can make teeth appear whiter by contrast.

If your teeth appear yellow, try berry or bubble-gum pink lip color. The blue undertones in these colors will bring out the white in your teeth.

If your teeth appear grayish, try a copper or bronze shade, which can bring out the white in gray teeth.

Get a Tan

A fake one of course! Applying bronzer or self-tanning lotion will make your teeth look whiter by comparison. The darker your complexion, the whiter teeth appear.

Similarly, don’t wear a lot of white. Darker colors up the contrast on your face and help your teeth appear whiter.

Blondes and those with fair complexions have a more difficult time making their teeth appear white than brunettes and those with darker complexions.

Swish With Water After Your Morning Coffee

Chase your morning cup of coffee with water to prevent staining particles in your coffee from sticking to the biofilm of your teeth, staining the surfaces and penetrating the dentin over time.

Be sure to swish with water – not brush your teeth – because brushing after drinking an acidic beverage can actually wear down your enamel.

Replace Your Whitening Gum With a Toothbrush

Do you carry whitening gum around with you in the car, or in your purse? Replace it with a toothbrush that goes with you on the go. Brushing after staining meals can be very effective in preventing teeth staining.

If you absolutely can’t brush, swish with water. This goes not only for coffee, but berries, green tea, and wine.

Learning why teeth yellow as we age and preventing the need for whitening might not make your teeth whiter today, but it will help you keep them looking white naturally, without whitening treatment, for potentially your whole life.

Mark Burhenne DDS

Learn More: Teeth Whitening: What to Know Before You Go
Category: Cosmetic Dentistry, Teeth Whitening

About Mark Burhenne, DDS

Hi, I’m Dr. B, practicing functional dentist for 35 years. I graduated from the Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco, CA in 1987 and am a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM), Academy of General Dentistry (Chicago, IL), American Academy for Oral Systemic Health (AAOSH), and Dental Board of California. I’m on a mission to empower people everywhere with the same evidence-based, easy-to-understand dental health advice that my patients get. Learn more about Dr. B

  • All Posts
Previous Post: « Is your toothbrush making you sick? Is Your Toothbrush Making You Sick?
Next Post: Six Ways Your Dentist Can Make You Look Younger Six Ways Your Dentist Can Make You Look Younger »

Quick Links

  • Cart
  • My Account
  • About
  • Interview Dr. Burhenne
  • Contact

Resources

  • Find a Functional Dentist
  • Newsletter

Our Products

  • All Products
  • Reversing Cavities Naturally
  • Cavity Free Kids Guide
  • The 8 Hour Sleep Paradox

STAY IN TOUCH

  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • TikTok

Copyright © 2022 · Ask the Dentist · All Rights Reserved

Privacy Policy / Terms & Conditions / Advertising Policy

Academy of General Dentistry Sleep Medicine logo

Medical Disclaimer

We have made every effort to ensure that all information we provide has been tested for accuracy, however, we make no guarantees regarding the results that you will see from using this information. We disclaim liability for incidental or consequential damages and assume no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage suffered by any person as a result of use of the information provided to you from us. The information on this website is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied and for informational purposes only. This website’s content is not medical advice nor is it intended to replace medical advice. The information on this website is not intended to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, condition, illness, or injury. Before implementing any information we provide to you, you should seek advice from a licensed medical professional.