23 May Will My Whitened Teeth Retain Their New Color?
You’ve just spent a couple of hours at the dentist undergoing a tooth whitening process that has you smiling brightly. There are a couple of things you can do that will protect your investment and keep your teeth dazzling for a long time.
- Be aware of the foods and beverages that stain teeth. Coffee, tea, red wine, berries, sugary beverages … all of these can dull that sparkle. If you are going to consume these products, try to limit the amount; drink with a straw so the beverage bypasses the teeth and do not swish liquids – swallow right away. Try to brush your teeth soon after, but if you can’t brush, rinse with water or chew sugar free gum to help stimulate saliva (nature’s mouth wash).
- Do not use tobacco in any form – smoking or chewing will stain and yellow teeth quickly.
- Floss daily.
- Brush at least twice per day; more often, if possible.
Before embarking on any tooth whitening process, ask your cosmetic dentist to clarify a couple of points:
- How white will teeth get? Teeth can lighten up to eight shades during in-office treatment. However if teeth were never white, it is unrealistic to believe teeth will get whiter than they ever were.
- Which comes first … whitening or cosmetic enhancement like veneers? Since porcelain is not impacted by whitening, it is best to whiten first so cosmetic restorations can be matched to your new look.
- What is best for me, in-office or at-home whitening? For many patients, maximum lightening can be achieved in the shortest amount of time at the office. But for others, being able to whiten at their own pace in the privacy of home is more important.
- How often can whitening be done? It is possible to over- whiten teeth. They can become brittle and damage dental enamel. Sensitivity can occur as well. There should be a minimum of six months between whitening sessions.
- What options are available if teeth start to become dull? There are touch-up kits available for use at home.
Whitening teeth at the hand of your dental professional is optimum as your dentist can provide the most powerful whitening agents available in a safe and controlled atmosphere. The result will be a dazzling “wow” smile to enjoy for a very long time.
Contact our skilled team of cosmetic dentists at 210-616-0858 to schedule a tooth whitening appointment today.