You couldn’t stand the yellow stains on your teeth anymore, so you decided to get a professional tooth whitening treatment from your dentist in Goode, VA. Your pearly whites were actually white for what felt like the first time in forever! Your dentist warned you that if you don’t take proper care of your teeth, they could become stained again. You want your smile to stay bright. How can you prevent future staining from happening? Read on to learn 5 ways to maintain your newly white smile.
1. Use a Whitening Toothpaste
A whitening toothpaste won’t do the job as well as a professional whitening treatment from your cosmetic dentist in Goode, but it will remove surface stains that leave a yellow shade behind on your teeth. It may also cause sensitivity, but there are lots of toothpastes out there that contain whitening and desensitizing elements at the same time.
2. Brush Your Teeth
It sounds like a no-brainer, but be sure to still brush at least twice a day. Be extra careful to brush right after you consume stain-causing foods and beverages, like coffee, tea, red wine, or berries. This will prevent the pigments on those foods and drinks from sticking to your enamel and staining them again.
3. Use a Straw
You probably can’t avoid your daily cup of joe, especially if you work early in the morning. However, to minimize the staining effect on your teeth, ingest it through a straw. This way the coffee will bypass your pearly whites and keep them white. Use a straw on any drink that could stain your teeth.
4. Avoid Orange or Brown Shades of Lipstick
These can stick to your teeth and leave behind yellowish stains. In addition, they make your teeth look darker than they actually are. If you’re going to wear lipstick after whitening treatment, stick to bright shades of blue- or pink-based lipstick. This will make your teeth look even brighter.
5. Visit Your Dentist for a Touch-Up
It’s important to visit your dentist at least once every 6 months no matter what color your teeth are. Your hygienist can perform a cleaning that leaves your teeth a shade or two whiter. You may also opt to get a touch-up whitening treatment. However, if you follow all the steps listed above, you might not even need it.
Teeth whitening can make your smile brighter and your self-confidence higher. Be sure to follow these steps to keep your pearly whites nice and beautiful.
About the Author
Dr. Ron Hendricksen is a member of several professional organizations, including the Academy of General Dentistry, the Virginia Dental Association, and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He has studied under world-class aesthetic dentists, so he knows all the best ways to make your pearly whites shine. To learn more about his teeth whitening treatments, contact him at (540)-587-5707.