6 Tips to Protect Your Teeth Whitening Results

You just had your teeth whitened. You’re leaving your dentist’s office, and your confidence is at an all-time high. You feel amazing - as if there’s nothing you can’t accomplish. As you stop at the traffic light, you wonder what the driver in the car next to you is thinking as you flash a big smile. Your next thought is: I wish I could always feel this way. 

Here at Duval Orthodontics, we understand what a confidence boost a gorgeous smile provides. In this blog, we share six tips to extend the life of your teeth whitening treatment.  

Maintaining your bright smile

Strategies for keeping your teeth whitening results longer fall into two categories: lifestyle habits under your control and a commitment to carve out time for professional services.   

1. Cut back on foods and drinks that stain

A great way to keep your teeth bright longer is to do what you can to lessen the opportunities for tooth staining to happen in the first place. Reduce your intake of those pesky staining beverages like colas, teas, wine, and coffee, as well as starchy foods and foods with tomato sauce. Avoid acidic and sugary foods and drinks that can eat away at your enamel.   

2. Avoid tobacco products

You probably know that smoking and tobacco products create a lot of teeth staining. Smokeless tobacco contains many other ingredients, like sugar, sand, and grit, that can wear away tooth enamel and put you at a higher risk of tooth decay.

3. Drink plenty of water

Staying hydrated is essential in multiple body processes, from regulating body temperature to lubricating your joints to proper digestion. When it comes to keeping your teeth white longer, it’s a fail-safe in case you’re not disciplined at avoiding foods and drinks that stain.

Drinking water throughout the day performs two vital functions: rinses your mouth of food debris that can stain and produce saliva-neutralizing acids that may cause discoloration.

4. Practice good at-home oral hygiene

One of the first things most parents teach their kids is how to brush their teeth, and for good reason. Not only does brushing your teeth at least twice a day help prevent tooth decay and gum disease, but it fights the daily battle against staining. Don’t forget to floss once daily, and floss before you brush for more effective results.  

5. Schedule checkups and professional cleanings

No matter how diligent and proficient you are with your at-home oral care, there are some stains and dental plaque that you can’t remove through at-home oral care. Make time to visit your dental provider for routine checkups and professional cleanings. It makes a huge difference in keeping your teeth white and healthy and pays dividends for your gums and oral health.

6. Plan for periodic teeth whitening touch-ups

Teeth whitening services are effective and, with a little effort, can be long-lasting, but the results are not permanent. Meet with your dental provider about your whitening goals and discuss an optimal sequence for touch-ups.

At Duval Orthodontics, we offer our patients the best of both worlds – in-office teeth whitening and at-home custom whitening kits. Both dentist-directed services help you get the results you want with none of the guesswork.

If you prefer to sit back and let us do the whitening service, this in-office service takes about an hour. For the DIYer who prefers whitening their teeth in the comfort of their home, we create custom whitening trays to fit your mouth for a more comfortable experience. We provide specific instructions on how to fill the whitening trays and provide all the materials. You wear the whitening tray for about an hour a day, and typically see results in about six weeks.

The advantage these two whitening options offer is that the whitening solutions used in both processes are professional grade and are more potent than what you get in the local drugstore or online.  

If your teeth are discolored, stained, or dull, and you want to learn about teeth whitening, schedule a consultation with Duval Orthodontics by contacting the office most convenient in Warner Robins or Albany, Georgia, or booking an appointment online. Call us today to capture your best smile.