Whitening treatments are a popular service – after all, everyone wants a beautiful smile they can show off with confidence. Whether you have it done by a dentist or do it yourself with an at-home whitening kit, the results can be seen right away.
The problem with these treatments is that while they are instant, they are not permanent. The whiteness can begin to fade in as little as one month, and it’s not healthy to whiten your teeth monthly. Doing so can wear down your enamel and lead to dental problems that are costly to fix. Instead, there are other you can maintain a white smile for as long as possible that we’ll share with you today.
Following these simple 5 tips will help you maintain the whiteness of your teeth between treatments.
1. Avoid Teeth-Staining Beverages
Here’s a good rule of thumb to follow: if a drink can stain a carpet, t-shirt, or other material, it will most likely stain your teeth as well! We are talking about red wine, coffee, and tea, specifically. In consumed on a regular basis, these beverages can cause yellowing and stain your teeth.
If you avoid these drinks completely, you’re looking at up to a couple of years before you need a touch-up or another whitening treatment. We know giving up coffee or wine sounds like a lot of work, but think about how much money and time it will save you in the long run.
If you want to treat yourself occasionally, we suggest using a straw as often as you can to avoid staining your front teeth.
2. Brush, Floss, and Rinse
Having good dental hygiene will not only give you a dazzling smile but also maintain the health of your mouth.
Here are some quick tips to follow:
- Brush teeth twice a day with a soft toothbrush (after every meal is even better)
- Floss daily & rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash
- Replace toothbrush every 3-4 months
- Visit your dentist for your regular professional cleanings
Not only are these good practices for maintaining great oral health, but they’ll also keep your pearly whites clean. We suggest brushing and rinsing immediately after you eat or drink stain-causing beverages like the ones we mentioned above.
3. Use Whitening Toothpaste
Adding whitening toothpaste to your dental hygiene routine is a great idea if you don’t overdo it. Do your best not to use it more than twice a week, as this is enough times to prevent your teeth from yellowing. The rest of the time, use regular toothpaste.
There are other over the counter gels and rinses that you can consider using to remove stains, many of which contain mild abrasives. Unlike bleaches, you don’t have to worry about the natural color of your teeth changing.
4. Touch-Up Treatments
Depending on the whitening treatment or method used, it may be necessary to touch up every 1-2 years, especially if you drink a lot of stain-causing beverages or if you smoke. If this happens to be the case, consider touching up every 6 months.
5. See Your Dentist
Our last piece of advice to having a beautiful, white smile is attending every single one of your checkups and cleanings. A professional team of dentists will be able to recommend the necessary cleanings to remove stains caused by food or tobacco, among other issues.
They have quick ways to whiten your teeth and can offer safe solutions to any of your dental needs. Don’t ever underestimate the importance of getting your teeth checked – you’ll likely be happy you did.
Wrap-Up
You worked hard and maybe even spent a lot of money to brighten up your pearly whites, so you should do everything in your power to keep them this way. Having these tips in mind will help you maintain a beautiful smile for years to come and even improve your overall dental health.