Having pearly white teeth is something that we all strive for. Many options are now available for such purpose, ranging from at-home kits to professionally-applied formula. And once you’ve spent hundreds to thousands of dollars for teeth whitening products and procedures, the last thing you’d want to see are discolored teeth. Unfortunately, no whitening option is permanent. So to prevent you from feeling disgruntled, here are some tips on how to make your pearly whites shine bright for as long as possible.
Daily brushing and flossing
Proper oral hygiene through brushing and flossing will not only keep your teeth stain-free. It will also keep your entire mouth clean and healthy. At the very least, you have to brush your teeth twice a day – first thing in the morning and at night before bedtime. It is also recommended that you brush and floss any time during the day, especially after consuming heavily-colored foods and beverages. For added effect, use whitening toothpastes. They are a bit more abrasive that your regular toothpaste and thus more helpful in removing surface stains from your teeth. Find ones that contain baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, or both.
Avoid stain-causing foods and drinks
Aside from proper oral hygiene practices, you also have to watch what you eat. Heavily-colored foods and beverages like berries, dark-colored sauces, wine, tea, coffee, soda, and sports drinks can cause tooth discoloration. If you are serious about keeping your teeth white, cut back on these. Or if you can’t seem live without these drinks, try using a straw. It is also important to avoid consuming any of these for a couple of days after your whitening treatment.
Quit tobacco use
Tobacco in any form (smoking or chewing) can cause discoloration, and is therefore detrimental to your pearly whites. According to the American Dental Association, tobacco stains not only your teeth, but the tongue and gums as well. In addition, there are other oral health problems associated with tobacco use. These include gum problems, dulled taste, poor wound healing (i.e. after extraction, periodontal therapy, etc.) and even oral cancer.
Regular dental visits
Apart from daily home care, it is also ideal to visit your dentist on a regular basis. These visits are for routine checkups and professional cleaning, which will help rid of surface stains that were not removed by brushing. Professional cleaning is a very effective way of keeping your teeth white without the need to undergo another whitening procedure.
Ask your dentist for at-home whitening kits
If the above tips are not enough for you and you want the “real thing” to help keep your teeth white in the long-term, try asking your dentist for at-home whitening kits. This kit involves fabrication of a custom tray that perfectly fits on your teeth. This tray will be the carrier for the whitening agent included in the kit. Once your teeth start to yellow again, you can use the kit to whiten your teeth to your preferred shade. Be sure, though, to use kits that are professionally manufactured.
Always remember that you’ve got some work to do when it comes to keeping your teeth sparkling white. Like how your avoid driving through the mud after washing your car, you also have to be mindful of how you treat your teeth before and after whitening. By following the tips given above, you’ll be sure to maintain your white teeth for as long as possible.