You have just gotten a professional teeth whitening treatment, and your smile is looking brighter than ever. It’s a fantastic feeling, isn’t it? That boost in confidence is worth every penny. But you might be wondering, how do you make this brilliant whiteness last?
The truth is, your whitening results won’t stay this bright forever without a little help from you. The good news is that keeping your smile looking great isn’t difficult. With a simple consistent routine and a few smart choices, you can enjoy your dazzling smile for a long, long time. Let’s talk about some easy steps you can take to protect your investment.
How to Keep Your Smile Bright After Professional Teeth Whitening
Be a Little Picky About Your Food and Drinks
Right after your whitening treatment, your tooth enamel is a bit more open and can absorb stains more easily. Even after that initial period, some of our favorite foods and drinks are the biggest enemies of a white smile.
Drinks like coffee, black tea, red wine, and dark sodas are famous for causing stains. Foods with strong colors, like blueberries, soy sauce, and tomato sauce, can also dull your smile over time.
Now, we’re not saying you have to give up your morning coffee forever. The key is moderation. Here’s a little trick when you do enjoy these things. Try using a straw for your cold drinks. This helps the liquid bypass your front teeth.
Another great habit is to rinse your mouth with water right after you eat or drink something that could stain. If you can, brushing your teeth about thirty minutes after your meal is the best way to stop stains before they set in.
Stick to a Great Cleaning Routine
Your daily brushing and flossing routine is your number one weapon in the fight to keep your smile white. Brushing at least twice a day with a good toothpaste is essential. Using a whitening toothpaste a few times a week can help gently scrub away new surface stains.
Don’t forget to floss every single day! Flossing gets rid of plaque and food bits between your teeth that your brush can’t reach. Plaque and food bits can lead to stains and discoloration in those hard to see spaces.
Using a mouthwash can also be a helpful extra step. Just look for one that’s alcohol free, because alcohol can dry out your mouth. A dry mouth is more likely to develop stains and bacteria.
Kick Tobacco to the Curb
This is a big one! If you needed another reason to quit smoking or using tobacco, your new smile is it. The nicotine and tar in tobacco products create stubborn yellow and brown stains that are very tough to remove.
Tobacco is also terrible for your overall oral health, leading to gum disease and other serious problems. Protecting your bright smile is a perfect motivation to quit for good.
Let Your Dentist Help You Maintain
Don’t skip your regular dental cleanings. Seeing your hygienist every six months keeps your smile bright. They have special tools to remove hardened plaque, called tartar, that you can’t just brush away. This professional cleaning will not only keep your teeth healthy but it will also help maintain that just whitened look.
Consider a Quick Refresh
Over time, it’s normal for your smile to slowly lose a little of its brightness from daily life. That’s where touch up treatments come in. Your dentist can provide you with easy to use at-home whitening kits or schedule a quick in office visit to bring back that brilliant white.
How often you need a touch up depends on your habits. Many people find a quick refresh every six to twelve months does the trick.
Drink More Water
This might be the easiest tip of all. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day is great for your whole body, and your smile is no exception. Water helps wash away food particles and staining substances. It also keeps your mouth producing plenty of saliva, which is your body’s natural way of cleaning your teeth and fighting off decay.
Your Partner for a Lasting Bright Smile in Durham
At Oak Grove Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we are just as committed to helping you maintain your results as we are to achieving them in the first place. We know you love your new smile, and we want to help you keep it looking its best.
If you have any questions about your aftercare routine, or if you are ready for a touch up, we are here for you.
Don’t let your investment fade. Call our Durham, NC dental practice today at 919-899-4467 to schedule your next cleaning or to talk about your whitening maintenance options.