A new, brighter smile can be yours in as little as an hour with the help of a professional teeth-whitening procedure. Your confidence and self-esteem will soar when you flash your pearly whites. If not properly maintained, whitened teeth can quickly lose their luster and appeal. Discoloration or spots on the surface can be caused by aging, diet, and other lifestyle factors. Discuss your options with a certified Fort Walton Beach family cosmetic dentistry.

Here are some suggestions to help you keep your teeth white after a professional whitening procedure.

You Should Stay Away from Dark-Colored Foods And Drinks

Whitened teeth will get discolored again after prolonged contact with certain foods and drinks. Ingestion of anything causes contact between enamel and food. Highly colored foods and drinks, such as:

• Wine, coffee, and tea
• Carbonated beverages with a high concentration of fruit or vegetable pulp
• Soy sauce, barbecue sauce, and red pasta sauce are all examples of dark sauces.
• Beets
• Grapes and berries
• As in, a dark chocolate bar
• An acidic and high-sugar diet

If total avoidance isn’t possible, you may wish to use a straw to minimize contact with your teeth. You should promptly clean or rinse your teeth after eating meals that may discolor them.

Brush your teeth more regularly.

It’s important to keep up with your regular dental and oral hygiene routines after teeth whitening to avoid further discoloration and staining. A good oral hygiene routine consists of twice-daily brushing and once-daily flossing. To remove all debris from your teeth, brush for at least two minutes.

When brushing your teeth, make sure to clean all of the surfaces that are visible by using small, circular motions. Antibacterial mouthwashes, which you can use to gargle and rinse, can also help prevent tooth decay and gum disease.

Smoking is Bad for You

One of the most immediate ways to undo the effects of tooth whitening is to smoke. The use of tobacco products, including cigarettes, increases the risk of gum disease and tooth decay and also discolors teeth. Tobacco use is also associated with an elevated risk of cavities and gum disease. Quitting smoking is essential if you want to preserve your tooth enamel.

Plan on having your teeth cleaned and checked regularly.

A bright, healthy smile is a lot easier to keep up with regular dental exams. The dentist will remove plaque and tartar from your teeth more thoroughly than you can at home and check for gum disease and tooth decay. During a professional tooth cleaning, surface stains are also eliminated.