How to Extend the Results of Teeth Whitening

You’ve already invested in teeth whitening using an at-home method or professionally in the dental office. How do you keep your teeth looking that bright? The team at Volterra Dental in Los Alamitos, California, offers six good teeth whitening tips to keep your new brilliant white color.

Keep regular twice-yearly dental appointments

At each cleaning at Volterra Dental, your hygienist also removes stains. The manual, electric, and ultrasonic instruments remove plaque buildup that leads to tooth decay and causes your teeth to appear yellow or dingy.

Your hygienist uses a stain-removing paste and a polishing tool to remove tough stains, and your teeth feel smooth and ultra-clean afterward. You notice a difference when you look in the mirror after the cleaning. Yes, your teeth are a lighter shade of white.

Practice good oral hygiene habits

Make brushing twice a day part of your regular hygiene routine. Floss once a day between every tooth to help avoid decay and keep your teeth healthy and free from stains.

Use whitening toothpaste

Many toothpastes today include whitening agents; pick one that includes whitening and the American Dental Association’s seal of approval, which indicates that it’s safe for your teeth. Whitening toothpaste contains small amounts of abrasive material that polishes your teeth, along with chemicals that remove stains.

Some whitening agents take 2-6 weeks to work, while those containing a chemical called blue covarine work right away by making your teeth appear less yellow.

Use a soft toothbrush

Using a soft toothbrush with rounded bristles helps maintain the enamel on your teeth. As you age, your tooth enamel becomes thinner. If you’ve spent years brushing your teeth vigorously with a hard toothbrush, you could have brushed away a significant amount of your tooth enamel. The material under the enamel is called dentin. It has a yellowish color, which can show through when the enamel is worn down. Brushing too hard and not using a soft toothbrush can also damage your gums.

Avoid or limit food and beverages that stain your teeth

Are you a coffee-holic? Do you freshen your cup all day long? If you want to keep your teeth their whitest after a teeth whitening procedure, limit your intake of dark colas and other dark beverages like coffee, tea, or red wine.

Drink water after consuming your coffee to rinse your teeth. If you consume red wine, try changing to white some of the time to help maintain the effects of your teeth whitening.

Some foods stain your teeth, too. Think of what your fingers look like if you crush a blueberry between them. Try another fruit in your smoothies some of the time, and drink water or brush your teeth afterward.

Don’t smoke

Aside from being bad for your overall health, the tar and nicotine in cigarettes discolor your teeth, giving them a yellowish or brownish appearance. Try a smoking cessation program to keep your teeth white after undergoing professional teeth whitening.

Call us at (562) 501-3188 Volterra Dental today or send us a message to get more teeth whitening tips or for all of your general and cosmetic dental needs. You’re in expert hands and we can’t wait to serve you!