Professional teeth whitening is an excellent way to achieve a bright white smile, but how do you keep your smile looking great once your treatment is complete? Here are a few tips you can follow to make the effects of your teeth whitening last as long as possible.

Drink Water

Drinking lots of water comes with many great health benefits, and it helps your smile too! Water washes the teeth and helps prevent foods and drinks from staying on the surface of your teeth for long periods of time and staining them. For the best results, you should drink water at the end of every meal or rinse your mouth out with water once you’re done eating.

Avoid Dark-Colored Drinks

Dark-colored beverages like coffee, tea, red wine, beer, dark soda, and berry juice are known to cause issues when it comes to staining teeth. If one of your favorite beverages is on this list, however, your second-best option is to drink it through a straw. This helps prevent the drink from coming in contact with the front of the teeth, which helps to minimize staining. Additional things to avoid or limit include chocolate, tomatoes, dark sauces, and citrus fruits.

Avoid Bright Colored Products

If you use bright blue, green, or purple mouthwash or toothpaste, you may want to see if your preferred brand carries a white or clear option. Whitening toothpaste doesn’t provide patients with a much brighter smile like professional teeth whitening can. However, it is great for minimizing the stains that build up on whitened teeth and can help keep them consistently white. The more you can avoid artificial coloring (and yes, that goes for things like candy too), the better.

Avoid Tobacco Products

Smoking and chewing tobacco are bad for your health, but they can also cause patients with professionally whitened smiles to notice that the effects of their whitening treatments fade quickly. Smoking can cause the teeth to look yellow or gray regardless of whether a patient has ever whitened their teeth or not. To prevent this, we recommend reducing or quitting smoking.

Practice Great Oral Hygiene

Of course, taking care of your smile is one of the best ways to ensure that it remains healthy and looks fantastic. Brushing and flossing help to remove food debris that can cause staining on the teeth. Professional dental cleanings can also remove surface-level stains that occur on the teeth.

Whiter Teeth at Middletown Commons Family Dental

Regular teeth whitening treatments, in combination with a thorough at-home oral care routine and regular dental visits, will set your smile up for success! If you are ready to whiten your teeth, we offer KöR® Teeth Whitening for exceptional results. Contact our Louisville, KY office to schedule your appointment for whiter teeth.