How to Maintain a Whiter Smile

A bright, white smile is one of the best ways to make a lasting impression. After investing time and money into achieving your perfect white, it’s vital to put a little effort in keeping them that way.

Follow these simple dental tips to keep your teeth white all year long.

Perform Home Whitening Touch-Ups

Using at-home whitening products such as whitening trays at home is an effective way of keeping your teeth many shades whiter all from your own bathroom. If you’ve recently had a professional whitening treatment done with the dentist, using home whitening kits will help to keep your teeth that bright dentist white.

Ask Dr. Baudean what he would recommend for your home touch-ups. He will take your personal needs into consideration and help you whiten safely and effectively. You may want to use custom trays to whiten, or may be fine with an over-the-counter kit or whitening strips.

Other Ways To Whiten At Home

There are plenty of things you can do from the comforts of home to keep your teeth healthy and white.

• Use a Whitening Toothpaste

Using a toothpaste that has specific whitening agents is a great way to gradually whiten your teeth, or to help keep them white after a treatment. Look for a toothpaste that specifies whitening on the label.

• Brushing After Mealtime

Proper oral hygiene is important in maintaining a healthy, white smile. Brushing your teeth after every meal (or stain causing beverage such as coffee or red wine) will help keep harmful stain causing bacteria from sticking to the surfaces of your teeth causing discoloration. Brush at least twice a day using a soft-bristled toothbrush.

• Don’t Skip the Floss

Regularly flossing is an important step in proper oral hygiene care. Flossing regularly will decrease cavities, and will help food particles from sticking in places where your toothbrush can’t reach.

Consider Daily Habits that Might Stain Teeth

Not only is smoking and use of tobacco products bad for your heart and lungs, but it’s also bad for your teeth, gums and mouth. Smoking causes bad breath, tooth discoloration, increased plaque and tartar build-up, gum disease and more. Even smokeless vapor tobacco products can wear down your teeth and gums, exposing the roots of your teeth and increasing the risk of tooth decay.

Tweak Your Diet

Over time, exposure to certain foods and drinks that are dark in pigment will gradually darken your newly whitened teeth. Everything that passes through your mouth on it’s way into your stomach has to travel through your teeth to do so. When you consume foods that are high in sugar and acidity, those foods leave behind cavity causing bacteria that leads to tooth decay.

Try incorporating these healthy teeth-friendly foods into your daily lifestyle:

• Chicken
• Cheese
• Nuts
• Milk
• Fresh fruits
• Fresh vegetables

It’s also wise to limit beverages that are known to stain the teeth’s surface including:

• Coffee
• Dark colored soda
• Red wines
• Dark colored juices

Check Up on Your Oral Hygiene

If your dentist is known for finding tooth decay and other dental issues at your exams, it’s time to freshen up on your oral hygiene routine by:

Checking your technique – If you brush your teeth in under a minute, you’re not taking the time needed to reach all of your tooth surfaces. To get a proper cleaning, brush the outward-facing, tongue-facing and chewing surfaces of your teeth and use special attention on your back molars.

Schedule Regular Dental Exams

Regular dental check-ups twice a year are the easiest way to maintain healthy, white teeth. Your dentist is able to clean your teeth more thoroughly than you can do alone with your toothbrush and floss, all while checking for cavities, gingivitis and plaque buildup. Catching dental issues early keeps them small and inexpensive.

Ask for some feedback from us at your next dental check-up and receive some personalized tips on how you can have a brighter, whiter smile.