How to Extend the Results of Teeth Whitening

When it comes to improving their smiles, consumers agree that teeth whitening is the most popular way to go. Though there are plenty of over-the-counter, do-it-yourself kits, none of these rival the results you’ll see from a teeth whitening treatment from The Woodlands Dental Group.

The best results

The key to dental office whitening is the strength of bleaches. It takes powerful chemistry to strip away years of staining on tooth enamel. Your teeth are strong and hard, so they can take whitening treatments in stride. However, your gums are much more delicate.

Combine that with the difficulties of self-treatment and it’s easy to see why consumer kits must use diluted bleach. You could do serious damage to your gums and teeth if you misused office-strength whitening solutions. Even a few minutes of over-bleaching could cause damage.

In the hands of trained professionals, though, you can sometimes achieve whiteness that’s brighter than even the natural color of your tooth enamel, years before coffee and red wine dulled it down. There’s no question that dental office whitening is the way to go to reach maximum brightness.

Keeping your amped up smile

While there’s no question you’ll be thrilled with the whiteness of your smile leaving the office, all the same factors that stained your teeth in the first place are ready and waiting to dull you down again. It’s not surprising that many want to extend the life of their office-bright smiles, so here are a few tips you can use to maintain the effects of your teeth whitening treatment.

Ditch the habits

Certain foods are notorious tooth stainers. The worst culprits? Coffee, tea, red wine, soda, blueberries, and blackberries are perhaps most notorious. Now, no one is saying you should give up your morning coffee or pass on the nutrition and antioxidants of fresh berries. 

Consider changing your routine to include rinsing or brushing after having these smile killers to mitigate the staining effects. Cigarettes also take the edge off your teeth’s whiteness, and it’s a habit you already have many reasons to drop. Add keeping your teeth white to the list.

Keep the routine

You’ve taken the step and had your healthy teeth whitened. This is no time to stop your due diligence about oral hygiene. Keep up brushing, flossing, and regular dental visits. These are fundamentally more important to the health of your teeth than whitening, and in fact, you may not be able to have your teeth whitened if you have decay or gum disease present.

Add some artillery

The dentists at The Woodlands Dental Group can suggest post-treatment care designed to keep your smile happening. Whitening toothpastes are better at maintaining brightness than creating it, and so they’re often ideal to use after your teeth whitening. 

Your dentist can also recommend home treatment whitening systems designed to extend your results, as well as custom fitting you with dental trays for best results.

Dr. David Epstein and Dr. Nikita Vakil specialize in cosmetic dentistry, so they and their team are ready to help you achieve the bright smile you’ve always wanted. Find out more about teeth whitening and what it offers for you by calling the office to schedule a consultation today.