While there are many teeth whitening products available for purchase over the counter, if you want the whitest, most dazzling smile possible, your best bet is to schedule a professional teeth whitening procedure with your dentist. When you make the investment to have your teeth professionally whitened, it is important to take care of them properly afterwards in order to maintain the whiteness. Use the following tips to keep your teeth sparkling white for as long as possible after you have them professionally whitened:
Avoid Consuming Staining Food and Beverages
The last thing you want to do after having your teeth whitened is consume a lot of staining foods and drinks. Things that are known to stain teeth include coffee, tea, red wine, blueberries, soy sauce, tomato paste, hard candies that contain dye, and balsamic vinegar.
Make It a Habit to Use a Straw
If you are not ale to completely cut out your morning coffee or evening glass of red wine, get in the habit of drinking staining beverages with a straw. It may feel funny at first, but when you use a straw the beverage will be directed towards the back of your mouth and will not come into contact with the surface of your front teeth. This allows you to enjoy the occasional staining beverage without having to worry about discoloring your beautiful white teeth.
Brush Teeth Often
After you get your teeth whitened, it is a good idea to brush teeth after eating or drinking anything if possible. This will ensure that no food debris or staining compounds sit on the surface of your teeth for an extended period of time. When you don't have a toothbrush handy, at least rinse your mouth with plain water to help clean your teeth off.
Use Whitening Products to Maintain Your Smile
Whitening toothpastes and mouth rinses can be very useful in maintaining the shade of your smile after your dentist whitens your teeth. Talk with your dentist about which product he or she recommends-- you may be able to get products from your dentist's office or learn which over the counter whitening products found in a drug store work the best. In addition to using teeth whitening products, make sure you replace your toothbrush often. When the bristles become flat and frayed if will no longer be as effective in removing debris and staining compounds from the surface of your teeth. Contact a business, such as MyoTech Dental & Implant Center, for more information.
Share3 July 2016
Halloween is a holiday that my children love, and telling them they can't go door-to-door collecting candy would break their hearts. This led me to allowing them to collect candy on the holiday, then rationing it out to them every day instead of letting them gobble it up in just a few days. I always thought this was better for them, but my dentist told me this could be the reason why their February dental check-ups were always their worst ones. Daily candy consumption was taking a toll on their teeth. I started a new tradition of letting them indulge for two days, then giving them the option to swap the rest with me in exchange for a new toy. They never pass on the opportunity for a new toy. I created this blog to encourage other parents find similar tactics to keep their children's teeth healthy after Halloween.