When you have your teeth whitened, it is such an amazing feeling and it can really transform your confidence. Once you’ve got your teeth white, you want to keep them that way, so we’re here with some simple tips to help keep your smile really bright! The results of teeth whitening will fade over time, but there are a few things you can do to make it last as long as possible.
The best tip we can give you is to ask your dentist Sheffield based on what they would advise, as whitening treatments do differ and the things you need to be doing will also likely change based on the exact treatment you’ve had. Also, there are some treatments that are designed to be more durable and help you keep the results for longer, so be honest about your lifestyle with your dentist and they will be able to help you find the right type of teeth whitening treatment for you. However, let’s get into some more general things you can do to keep your teeth white after having them whitened professionally!
Avoid Coffee, Tea, Red Wine and Cola
First up, you should be avoiding tea, coffee, red wine and cola if you want to keep your teeth nice and white. They are common liquids that stain teeth, so cutting back on these things is really important. There are chemical compounds in these darker coloured drinks that give them their strong colour, and when you drink a lot of them, these transfer onto your teeth. Red wine specifically also contains tannin, again which can cause staining on the teeth.
If you can’t avoid these drinks altogether, you should drink them through a straw. Then, make sure that you are drinking water alongside these drinks to reduce staining where possible. You won’t be able to prolong the results as much as avoiding these drinks altogether, yet this is a good alternative. If you absolutely love these drinks and regularly drink them, then you may just need to top up your whitening treatment more often than someone who drinks less of them, so this is something to weigh up.
Avoid Smoking
Smoking is one of the worst things that you can do if you’ve had your teeth whitened. Smoking in general is very bad for our health, including our oral health, causing extremely serious problems such as oral cancer, gum disease and decay. Along with these things, your teeth also get stained very quickly. Just as your fingers can get stained from cigarettes, smoking is extremely likely to stain your teeth. The enamel on our teeth (the hard white surface) is porous, so nicotine can easily get trapped in those pores. Nicotine itself is colourless, however when it’s exposed to oxygen, it turns brown or yellow, which results in the staining.
So, staining on your teeth is the least of your concerns when it comes to smoking and your oral health, but it is just another reason to encourage you to quit! Whilst we’re on the topic, vaping can also have a negative impact on teeth. Many vapes are sweetened with artificial sweeteners, which can be damaging to your teeth over time, with many dentists now asking people if they vape at checkups. So, avoiding smoking and vaping is ideal when it comes to your oral health.
Avoid Acidic Foods
Foods that are acidic like sugar and citrus fruits should be eaten in moderation, as they can cause erosion, transparency on the teeth, as well as discoloration as the enamel becomes thinner, which exposes the dentin, which is naturally more yellow. If you really love anything sugary or citrussy, similar to the drinks section above, just make sure that you have a good drink of water afterwards, and make sure that you wait at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth, as this could damage the enamel even more.
Floss Once A Day
Another thing that you should be doing to keep your teeth white after having teeth whitening is to floss once a day! Flossing is so important, as food and plaque easily gets stuck between the teeth without us noticing, and even if it is a very small amount, it can have a big impact. Reducing plaque and the food between teeth in general will reduce discolouration, so make sure you bring flossing into your routine along with brushing thoroughly twice a day and using mouthwash!
Regularly Visit Your Dentist and Hygienist
Another important thing you can do to help keep your teeth white after whitening is to regularly visit your dentist and hygienist. When you have poor oral health overall, it contributes to a wide range of issues, including tooth discolouration. So, when you go to see your dentist often, they will be able to provide guidance on how to look after your teeth, what products you should be using, any areas you’re missing in your brushing and flossing routine and in general any issues which could contribute to tooth discolouration. Sometimes tooth discolouration is unavoidable, for example it happens as we age, so they could also help you to maintain your results with top up treatments.
You should also have an appointment with a dental hygienist every 6 months, as this helps to remove plaque and tartar build up, as well as removing some discolouration from the surface of the teeth with a polish (this isn’t always the case, as every smile is different). This is best practice not only from a cosmetic perspective, but to keep your smile looking and feeling healthy.
Other Things To Be Aware Of With Tooth Discolouration
As well as our lifestyle and ageing, there are a couple of other things which can contribute to tooth discolouration, which are health issues and also medicines. There are certain diseases which can impact your tooth colour, and also some medicines, so it’s important when you’re discussing any tooth whitening treatments with your dentist that you inform them of any medication you’re on or of any pre existing health conditions, as this could inform the type of treatment that is recommended for you. Your dentist should ask you if there have been any changes in your health since your last visit, so this is a great time to highlight if there is anything else going on that could be contributing to tooth discolouration. Often it’s a combination of things, but this information is important and will likely be very helpful for your dentist to know, so you can also access the best results from any teeth whitening treatments that you do have.
