Have you currently undergone a professional teeth whitening procedure? Investing in the health and beauty of your smile is a wonderful thing. However, won’t your teeth just become stained again? While discoloration can’t be avoided completely, with the right steps you can significantly reduce the severity of future stains and allow your results to remain brighter for longer periods of time.
Keeping Your Smile Bright
- Avoid drinks with dark pigments: Cutting back on or avoiding drinks with dark pigments can help you reduce discoloration. Coffee, tea, soda, red wine, and certain fruit juices are examples of drinks that contain staining agents. Instead, drink water, as this hydrates and doesn’t contain sugars or acids that harm the teeth.
- Eat healthier foods: When we consume foods high in sugar and other starches, bacteria break down the food particles, coating the teeth in a layer of plaque. The buildup can make teeth stains more apparent, leading to worsening states of discoloration. We suggest replacing sugary snacks with fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy products, or nuts.
- Stop smoking: Using tobacco products, such as cigarettes, can lead to stains on the teeth. To avoid yellow or brown discoloration, we recommend you stop smoking. In addition, quitting smoking can reduce the risk of oral, throat, and lung cancer. Simply put, there are no good reasons to smoke or use tobacco products of any kind.
- Have your teeth professionally cleaned: About once every six months you should have your teeth cleaned by your dentist or hygienist. Doing so removes plaque and tartar buildup that brushing and flossing cannot. In addition, cleanings also reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. If you have any questions about maintaining a brighter smile, then please contact our office today.
