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Summer is here, and we all know what that means – vacations, parties, BBQ’s and LOTS of pictures to capture the memories made in the hot summer days. Since you’ll be smiling in the sun all summer, you may have already had an appointment to get your teeth professionally whitened by your dentist. But is it possible to make your bright smile shine all summer long?
You’re in love with your new smile, and until your next whitening appointment, you want to keep your pearly whites as unblemished as possible, but how? Here are a few tips for keeping your teeth stain-free for longer:
- Avoid foods and beverages that will stain, and eat a “white diet”.
- During the first 48 hours after a whitening treatment, it’s extremely important to avoid any foods or drinks that could stain your teeth. Avoid:
- Tea, coffee, sodas, fruit juice, red wine, dark-colored sauces
- Citrus fruits – these can weaken the enamel
- Red meat
- Colorful vegetables and fruit
- Dark chocolate
- Stick to a “white diet” of foods that are white in color or colorless, and try to stick to this for 2 weeks. Eat:
- Yogurt
- Rice
- White meat
- Potatoes
- Cauliflower
- Bananas
- During the first 48 hours after a whitening treatment, it’s extremely important to avoid any foods or drinks that could stain your teeth. Avoid:
- Use straws.
- Straws will help keep potentially discoloring liquids away from your teeth and will help your smile remain whiter longer.
- Brush and floss at least twice a day.
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day, and floss once a day to keep the bacteria and plaque from building up on your teeth. Bring a toothbrush to work with you so you can brush after lunch as well, and consider using a whitening toothpaste to help maintain the brightness of your smile. Electric toothbrushes are even more effective at blasting away remnants that can stain teeth rather than manual brushes, so consider going electric.
- Drink lots of water!
- Water is a safe bet when trying to maintain a whiter smile. You should also rinse your mouth with water each time you eat or drink a beverage other than water.
- Don’t use tobacco products.
- Smoking or chewing tobacco is one of the fastest ways to stain your teeth. It will be nearly impossible to maintain a white smile while using these products.
- Avoid dental hygiene products with color in them.
- Skip the colored toothpaste and mouthwash. These can re-stain your teeth.
- Schedule regular dental checkups!
- Finally, it’s extremely important to maintain regular dental checkups. Good dental hygiene is essential to keeping your smile bright and healthy. At Simply Smiles, your expert hygienist will polish away surface stains, and our dentists will be able to give you personalized advice on how to keep your smile radiant and healthy.
We hope these tips will help you avoid the costly mistake of re-staining your teeth. When you do need to come back in for your next whitening appointment, we will be ready to assist you in every way. We offer KOR Professional whitening, which is widely recognized as the most effective teeth whitening system. Our in-office whitening treatments take about an hour, and we also offer at-home whitening options. No matter which option you choose, we will send you out into the world confident that you’re receiving the best care for maintaining your vibrant smile!
Sources:
https://healthengine.com.au/info/keep-teeth-white-teeth-whitening-treatment
https://www.fidleronthetooth.com/blog/how-to-keep-your-teeth-white-after-whitening/
https://lakeshore-familydentistry.com/five-tips-on-how-to-keep-teeth-white-after-bleaching/
https://www.rasmussendental.com/blog/2019/2/21/4-things-not-to-do-after-whitening-your-teeth
https://simplysmilesmiami.com/services/cosmetic-dentistry/#1556534764121-6205ab21-d437