Teeth whitening treatments are a popular choice for adults looking to remove surface stains and brighten their smiles. But what you do after treatment determines how long your new and whiter smile lasts.
If you don’t take the proper precautions, you may end up with duller or stained teeth sooner rather than later. Luckily, there are several steps you can take to prolong the effects of professional teeth whitening.
9 Tips to Prolong the Results of Teeth Whitening Treatment
Once you see the results provided by professional teeth whitening, you’ll want to do whatever you can to preserve your new radiant smile. The good news is that this is easy to do when you follow these nine simple tips.
1. Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
After your treatment, one of the best ways to maintain your whiter smile is by keeping up with regular brushing and flushing. You should brush your teeth at least twice a day to remove any trapped food particles. If you neglect your oral hygiene, plaque will build up on your teeth and dull your smile.
2. If You Smoke, Quit Immediately
If you smoke, you should consider quitting if you really want to prolong your whitening treatment. The tar, nicotine, and other harmful chemicals found in tobacco smoke penetrate your teeth’s porous enamel surface and cause discoloration. Smoking can also cause plaque and tartar to build up, further exacerbating the discoloration.
3. Invest in a Whitening Toothpaste
Another easy way to keep your teeth white for as long as possible is to use whitening toothpaste. Whitening toothpaste contains mild abrasives and gentle whitening agents that can help remove surface stains before they progress.
If you have very sensitive teeth, it might be a good idea to alternate between regular and whitening toothpaste. In general, you can tell if a whitening toothpaste is any good by whether it has been given the ADA Seal of Acceptance.
4. Avoid Drinks that Can Stain Your Teeth
Unfortunately, if you want to keep your pearly whites shining, you may have to give up some of your favorite drinks, including:
- Coffee
- Tea
- Red wine
- Dark soda
- Dark fruit juices
These and other dark-colored drinks are known to stain teeth and eat away at their enamel.
5. Reduce Your Dark Chocolate Intake
Although dark chocolate is a delicious treat with several health benefits, it is also notorious for staining teeth. You should consider limiting your dark chocolate intake or cutting it out from your diet completely to get the most out of your teeth whitening treatment.
6. Try to Avoid Dark Sauces
Dark sauces may pack a flavorful punch, but they can also stain your teeth. That’s why it’s a good idea to avoid sauces like:
- Soy sauce
- Barbecue sauce
- Teriyaki sauce
- Steak sauce
- Chocolate sauce
- Balsamic glaze
Try to stick to light-colored foods that won’t discolor your teeth. And if you do use any of these sauces, remember to brush your teeth immediately afterward.
7. Cut Out Sour Foods and Beverages
Sour or acidic foods and beverages can eat away at the protective layer of enamel and leave your teeth more vulnerable to stains. For that reason, highly acidic products like vinegar, sour candy, citrus fruits, and fruit juices should all be avoided.
8. Use Straws Whenever Possible
Many people find it difficult or even impossible to eliminate all stain-causing drinks from their diets. Thankfully, straws help mitigate the effects of dark, sugary, or acidic beverages by allowing the liquid to bypass your teeth. After your teeth whitening treatment, you should keep plenty of straws on hand to use when drinking something other than water.
9. Schedule Follow-Up Treatments
Another way to prolong the effects of teeth whitening is to invest in more treatment sessions. Despite your best efforts to maintain good oral hygiene and avoid staining, your teeth may still experience gradual discoloration over time.
Consider scheduling follow-up appointments at whatever time interval your dentist recommends to maximize the effects of treatment. Follow-up treatments make it easy to periodically refresh your smile and catch and correct stains in their infancy.
Brighten Your Smile with Professional Teeth Whitening Treatments in Brookhaven, GA
If you’re ready to unlock a brighter, whiter smile, Dr. Brett Langston can help. Whether you’re looking for in-office treatments or take-home kits that you can do on your own time, we can help you find the right whitening solutions for you. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule your first teeth whitening session.