How To Make Your Teeth Whitening Results Last
Posted on: 18 June 2018
Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments out there—and for good reason. The treatment is quick, safe, and relatively affordable. In fact, if you take really good care of your teeth, the results could last years! Here are some tips to help you maintain your whiter tooth shades.
Avoid Staining Products
Drinks like black tea, coffee, cranberry juice, beer, and wine. These drinks contain tannins, which are naturally occurring compounds, that are actually used as dyes for making ink and tanning leather. While the tannins are great for those uses, you certainly don't want them to remain on your teeth, since they can cause brown stains and reduce your whitening results. If you can, try to cut back on these drinks or use a straw to protect your teeth.
Tobacco products are notorious for staining teeth. Again, it would be in your benefit to cut back on these products—or quit them altogether. Besides reversing your whitening results, tobacco products increase your risk of oral cancer and gum disease.
Stay on Top of Your Annual or Bi-Annual Check-Ups
Brushing and flossing your teeth daily will help you keep your teeth white. However, people aren't always able to eliminate the plaque on their enamel. When plaque hardens, it turns into tartar. Tartar can make your teeth look more yellow and lessen your whitening results. Tartar can't be removed at home, so you need to go to your dentist regularly to have it cleaned off.
Improve Your Diet
Fruits and veggies contain antibacterial chemicals which fight plaque. They also contain malic acid, an enzyme that can whiten teeth.
Raw fruits and veggies contain crunchy skins which can help you increase your saliva production. Saliva is the body's natural cleaning agent and helps to eliminate plaque and keep your teeth whiter.
Besides increasing your fruits and veggies, consider adding more yogurt to your diet. Yogurt contains good bacteria which can help your oral health. Yogurt also contains proteins that can bind to enamel, thus strengthening them from acids and tartar buildup.
Ask Your Dentist About Touch-Up Trays
You likely won't be able to go into the dentist's office all the time to maintain your whitening. Instead, talk to your dentist about whitening pens or custom trays that you can use at home. These products are much more effective than store-bought methods, and they will help you maintain your whitening since they are customized for your needs.
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