Teeth whitening aftercare is very important to maintain a smile looking its best. Read on to learn about teeth whitening aftercare.
40 million Americans use teeth whitening products of some sort. Whether they get their teeth whitened professionally or using over the counter products, it is important to maintain the results.
Teeth whitening aftercare is imperative because your teeth’s color will change as time passes. No one’s teeth stay the same color forever. Instead, they’ll darken and turn yellow as a result of everyday habits and food and drink.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss how to keep your teeth looking as white as they did immediately after your whitening treatment.
Teeth Whitening Aftercare: The Basics
After you’ve had your teeth whitened, then avoid any foods that might cause your teeth to stain for at least two days after you have had your procedure. This also has smoking and chewing tobacco products, as these activities can also leave marks and stains on your teeth.
When you have bleaching done professionally, it can make your teeth even more porous they were to start with. This makes them easier to stain, and it makes it all the more important to avoid these foods and activities that can stain your teeth.
While you need to wait 48 hours to resume any activities or foods that could stain your teeth, it’s ideal to wait for an entire week. To maximize your whitening results, you should also restrict these foods and activities from the future.
What Foods Stain Your Teeth?
There are many foods that can stain your teeth and ought to be restricted. The most common culprits include tea, coffee, and colored soda, like Diet Coke or Coke.
Other goods that can stain your teeth incorporate red wine and berries.
Brush Your Teeth Regularly
After you’ve had your teeth whitened, make sure to brush and floss your teeth regularly. You may even want to brush and floss more than normal to make sure that your teeth look their absolute best. After all, you’ve put time and effort in getting them whitened, so you should keep them that way.
Brushing your teeth immediately after eating can also allow you to brush away stains that could accumulate on your teeth. Start incorporating brushing your teeth after eating staining foods in your daily regimen to make sure your teeth stay white for as long as possible.
Use Whitening Toothpaste a Week or So After Your Process
As your teeth will be porous after the procedure, they’ll also be marginally more sensitive. You ought to veer away from utilizing other products that contain whitening ingredients immediately after having it done.
However, once the sensitivity goes down, you can maintain the whiteness by brushing your teeth with whitening toothpaste. Incorporate this into your daily routine, and you’ll probably notice that your teeth stay skinnier for a longer period of time than if you use regular toothpaste.
Utilize Straws to Avoid Staining
If you are a caffeine addict and staying away from coffee or tea isn’t an alternative, use a straw to drink them with. You can purchase metal straws at a variety of sockets that you can clean and clean.
Metal straws are perfect to use with both hot and cold drinks, and they’re bad for the environment like plastic or reusable straws.
Some metal straws have a carrying case so that you can pop them in your purse or bag and use them wherever you move. Even if you go somewhere where they’re not offering straws, you will still have them ready for you so that you don’t have to stain your teeth.
Stop Smoking
Smoking can stain your teeth, and do so very badly. It’s also generally bad for your health . Having your teeth whitened and then picking up the habit again is counterintuitive, so it’s a fantastic idea to make it a goal to stop smoking altogether.
If you’re unable to quit smoking or are finding it difficult, talk to your doctor about steps you can take to make it easier, such as alternatives that are better for you.
If you quit smoking, not only will your teeth be whiter, but you’ll generally have far better health than someone who does smoke.
Eat Foods That Stain Sparingly
Having a glass of red wine or a bowl of tomatoes every so often isn’t going to hurt your teeth. But be mindful of it, and only do so on occasion.
If you still like berries and want to get all of their nutritional value without the stains on your teeth, consider making smoothies and drinking them via straws. This will offer you the same yummy goodness without compromising your tooth color.
Do Whitening Chewing Gums Help?
Whitening chewing gums can marginally help your teeth stay white, however they aren’t necessarily recommended. They require an immense amount of gum for you to find any real difference, and can exacerbate issues like TMJ disorders if chewed as often as needed.
Instead, stick with whitening your teeth professionally and maintaining them as far as you can.
Getting Your Teeth Whitened
Teeth whitening aftercare is incredibly important when it comes to ensuring that your teeth look pearly white. You wouldn’t wash your car and then immediately drive right into a puddle, would you? So why allow your teeth to become stained after getting them white?
Taking great care of your teeth is essential for overall health, as well, and keeping your teeth white will also keep them healthy.
If you’d like to discuss teeth whitening processes together with our team, ask an appointment today. We are going to find a time that’s convenient for you and discuss your alternatives.