After you receive professional teeth whitening treatment, you want to keep your teeth bright for as long as possible. There are some things you can do at home and at the dentist if you want to keep your teeth white for weeks after your treatment. Follow our tips to maintain your results and keep your teeth bright after teeth whitening treatment in our Newport News, VA, dental office.
Avoid Discoloration After Teeth Whitening in Newport News
There are several things you can do to keep your teeth bright following teeth whitening treatment:
Refrain From Certain Products
Exposing teeth to products or agents that easily stain the enamel can reverse whitening results. Tea, coffee, wine, and other drinks or even foods contain chromogens, dyes that stain the tooth enamel. While chromogens typically only affect the outer layer of the tooth enamel, they can stay with continual use. Sticking to a “white diet” consisting of light-colored foods and drinks can prevent staining. Typically, we recommend that patients avoid sodas, wine, coffee, tea, candy, berries, and other dark fruits at least 48 hours after whitening.
Smoking, vaping, and using tobacco products can also easily yellow or darken teeth. Using these products after whitening treatment can quickly discolor the enamel, reversing your whitening results. Not to mention that smoking and vaping can cause increased oral health issues and bad breath.
Continue Your Oral Hygiene Routine
Brushing and flossing not only removes harmful bacteria from the smile but also helps prevent staining from foods, beverages, and even plaque and tartar. Plaque is a sticky film of harmful bacteria that can discolor teeth. Bacterial buildup can also lead to tartar, a hardened form of plaque. Plaque and tartar can create yellow or brown spots on teeth. Flossing before brushing can help remove food debris from between teeth, and brushing for two minutes twice a day can help eliminate plaque and tartar from the smile.
Schedule Regular Dental Visits
At routine dental visits, our dental hygienists provide extensive dental cleaning services that include scaling, flossing, and brushing. Scaling removes plaque and tartar from the teeth and gums with a stainless steel dental tool. Our dental hygienists can clean areas of the smile that are typically harder to clean. Regular cleanings help prevent decay and also remove surface stains from the teeth.
Do you want a brighter smile? Are you interested in teeth whitening treatment? Schedule your next dental appointment with Dr. William Harper today. You can also contact our office at 757.414.7227. Let us know if you have questions about teeth whitening or how to keep your smile bright.