How to make teeth whitening last longer
Choosing to whiten your teeth can help to bring confidence to your smile with cosmetic dentistry treatments that guarantee results. Whether it is your first time whitening your teeth, or you are looking for a boost to the natural appearance of your teeth, the cosmetic treatment is an investment.
But once the original teeth whitening treatments have been completed, what can you do to make the results last longer?
How Long Should Teeth Whitening Treatments Last?
Teeth whitening treatments, whether approved at-home treatments or those completed at a dental clinic, should all last for a significant time, depending on factors such as food and drink intake and whether or not you smoke.
Teeth whitening treatments are not a permanent solution to tooth discolouration and day-to-day stains can occur over time. But there are a few things that you can do to protect your teeth and their colour.
Boost Your Teeth Whitening At Home
At The Dentists Old Market, our expert dentists have come up with their top tips for keeping your smile bright and white for longer.
After the Initial Treatment
The first 24 hours after your teeth whitening treatment are crucial to making sure the treatment works and lasts. During this time it is preferable to avoid any dark foods or liquids that may cause premature staining to your newly whitened teeth as they can reverse the effects of the treatment.
Continue to avoid anything that could stain your teeth for at least a week after your treatment for the best results.
Follow the Instructions
There are a variety of whitening treatments that you can choose from and each will have different directions. Some directions may advise you not to brush your teeth directly after the treatment as you could brush the whitening away, and weaken the end results, whilst others will recommend brushing your teeth immediately to remove the strong chemicals being used to remove stains.
No matter which whitening agents you choose, following the instructions can help to make your white teeth last for longer.
Avoid Foods that Stain your Teeth
One of the reasons someone may choose to whiten their teeth is because of any food stains they may have collected over time. Once you have completed your tooth whitening treatment it can be easy to prolong the results by avoiding certain foods.
Foods to avoid include:
- Red wine
- Tea or Coffee
- Tomatoey foods such as sauces or soups
- Berries
- Sugary foods and drinks, including fizzy drinks
Avoiding these staining foods means you aren’t exposing your enhanced smile to particular staining agents that break down enamel to leave stains on your teeth. Whilst these foods may seem unavoidable, you can still enjoy them, but perhaps swapping them out for less staining alternatives will help to keep you smiling brightly for longer.
Can’t resist your daily coffee or the occasional fizzy drink? Try using a straw to avoid the liquids touching your teeth, allowing you to enjoy your favourite drinks without adding any unnecessary stains.
Choose Foods that Promote Healthy Teeth
Whilst some foods like those above discolour your teeth, some are proven to help keep your teeth healthy, increasing saliva production which in turn keeps the enamel on your teeth strong and healthy, avoiding stains.
Foods to consider for healthy enamel and saliva production include crunchy carrots, celery and apples.
Good news, cheese is also great for keeping your tooth enamel healthy, as well as providing extra calcium for extra strong teeth that say no to stains.
Keep Brushing Regularly
Whilst regularly brushing our teeth is second nature by now, it’s important to remember that after any particularly staining foods or drinks brushing your teeth is a great way to prevent those stains. Start brushing after every meal, or pop some miniature dental care in your bag for eating out, keeping stains at bay one brush at a time.
Smoke Stains
One of the main causes of dental discolouration is smoking. The nicotine and tar in cigarettes commonly cause yellowing to teeth, or even browning if used for long enough, an unpleasant colour that tends to create an aged appearance.
Quitting smoking can help to prevent these stains as well as remove the risk of other smoking-related dental issues such as gum disease, infections or oral cancers.
Touch up your teeth at home
When keeping your teeth white it may be worth looking into some at-home whitening that you can use to prolong the results of your professional teeth whitening treatment.
Dentist-approved at-home whitening treatments like Enlighten Whitening are a great solution, allowing you to touch up your white teeth whenever you feel like it is needed.
Alternatively, whitening toothpaste can be an occasional boost for your teeth. Whilst these toothpastes can help to brighten the colour of your teeth they should not be used all the time as the chemicals can strip your teeth of their natural enamel and increase sensitivity after prolonged use. However, the occasional use will not damage your teeth and can help to remove surface stains.
Visit the Hygienist
One of the easiest ways to maintain your enhanced smile is to attend regular visits with a trusted dental hygienist. Yearly or six-monthly hygienist visits are recommended for those whose habits can stain or damage the teeth such as smokers or coffee drinkers, but they’re also a great idea for those who have undergone a teeth whitening treatment to help prolong the effects of the treatment. Some dentists may recommend you attend more frequent hygienist cleanings, perhaps quarterly visits to help keep your teeth pearly white.
Discover Professional Teeth Whitening in Bristol Today With The Dentists Old Market
Enhance your smile and boost your confidence with teeth whitening treatments that have proven results from The Dentists Old Market.
Get in touch with our team to discuss our teeth whitening treatment options, or check out our other cosmetic dental care services to find the right treatment for you.