Blog Highlights
- Once your teeth are whitened, consider avoiding stain-causing foods and drinks
- Throughout the day, rinse your mouth with water after drinking coffee, tea, or sodas
- Professional cleanings easily remove surface stains and reduce discoloration
Getting your teeth whitened is easy. Keeping them white and maintaining their brightness is where the real work begins. There are several ways you can whiten your teeth. You can do an in-office bleaching treatment or use over the counter products at home to whiten your teeth. If you decide to undergo a teeth whitening procedure, there are several things you can do to help maintain your new, white smile.
Once your teeth are whitened, consider avoiding stain-causing foods and drinks such as coffee, tea, and wine. If you choose to drink these beverages, use a straw to help keep the liquid away from your teeth. Foods that can cause staining include berries and tomato sauce. You may want to limit your consumption of these products. If you are a smoker, you should seriously consider quitting. Tobacco is a major contributor to staining and discoloration.
In general, it’s important to brush daily, once in the morning and once at night. You should also floss regularly. Using a whitening toothpaste can help combat stains caused by coffee and red wine and protect against the yellowing of your teeth. Throughout the day, rinse your mouth with water after drinking coffee, tea, or sodas with coloring. If possible, you can even carry your toothbrush with you to work or school to use after lunch.
If you start to notice that your teeth are returning to their pre-whitened yellow or stained hue, make an appointment to see your dentist. Scheduling regular dental cleanings can also help keep your smile white and bright. Professional cleanings easily remove surface stains and reduce discoloration. You can also ask your dentist to fit you for a custom whitening tray. This tray lets you bleach your teeth at home using a whitening gel whenever you start to notice the brightness of your smile fading.
