An Introduction to Cosmetic Dentistry: Facts, Questions and More

« Back to Home

5 Tips to Help Teeth Whitening Treatments Last Longer

Posted on

Professional teeth whitening can deliver dramatic results, but many people find that their newly bright smile fades disappointingly quickly. To help the effects of your professional teeth whitening procedure last as long as possible, follow these five tips.

1. Don't Smoke or Chew Tobacco

The chemicals in tobacco can stain teeth yellow. If you smoke or chew tobacco after your teeth whitening treatment, the stains the dentist removed will quickly return. To preserve your white smile, try to cut down the number of cigarettes you smoke, or quit completely.

E-cigarettes do not cause yellow stains on teeth, so you can use them to help you wean yourself off cigarettes. Nicotine patches can also help you quit without having a staining effect on your smile.

2. Limit Staining Beverages

Some drinks are very likely to cause dental staining. Many of these beverages contain chemicals called tannins, which give the drink a rich flavour but can reduce the whiteness of your smile. Red wine and black tea both contain very high levels of tannins. To reduce the rate at which stains return after teeth whitening, consider switching to white wine and green tea.

3. Rinse Your Mouth After Meals

Cutting all potentially staining foods and drinks out of your diet is very difficult. However, you can limit their ability to stain your smile simply by rinsing your mouth with water after you eat. Swishing water around the teeth can rinse away a lot of the tannins so they are less likely to stain your smile. This is an easy lifestyle change that you can make right away to make the most of your teeth whitening treatment.

4. Use Whitening Toothpaste Every Day

Whitening toothpaste is not as effective at removing stains as professional teeth whitening. However, it can help to reduce the rate at which stains build back up. Switch your regular toothpaste for a whitening formulation to limit staining and help your smile stay whiter for longer.

5. Floss Daily

Brushing is not the only part of a dental hygiene routine that reduces staining. Flossing is also extremely important because it removes plaque from the hard-to-reach areas between teeth. If you do not remove this plaque every day, it will harden into tartar, which is a yellow scaly substance that can cause your smile to look stained and unattractive. Floss every day to keep your teeth whiter for longer between teeth whitening treatments.

For more information about teeth whitening, talk to a dentist.


Share