You just had your teeth professionally whitened and can’t believe the difference it makes to your smile and attitude. Now you just have to maintain the results!
What you do in the days and weeks after treatment has a direct effect on how long those results last. Here's what the team at Smile Life Dental in Wilmington, MA recommends.
The First 48 Hours Matter Most
Enamel is temporarily more porous immediately after whitening. During this window, teeth are more susceptible to picking up new stains.
Avoid dark-colored foods and drinks, including coffee, tea, red wine, tomato sauce, and berries. This is a good rule of thumb for maintaining a white smile anytime, but especially for the first 48 hours after whitening.
Instead, think chicken, rice, water, or any white or light-colored foods. Typically, anything that will stain your clothing will stain your teeth.
Your Daily Routine After Whitening
Diligent oral hygiene should always be a priority, but especially if you want to maintain a newly-brightened smile. Use a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste to brush twice daily. Floss once daily to remove plaque from between teeth before it hardens. If it’s not possible to brush after meals, rinsing your mouth with water is beneficial.
Whitening Toothpaste vs. Professional Touch-Ups
Whitening toothpastes help manage surface stains between treatments, but do not produce the same depth of whitening as professional treatment. Think of them as useful for maintenance but not a replacement for periodic professional touch-ups.
Teeth Whitening Options
Smile Life Dental offers in-office whitening, take-home trays, and Deep Bleaching™, a multi-step treatment that reaches deeper staining than standard whitening systems. For patients who want to maintain teeth whitening results long-term, periodic professional touch-ups are more effective than whitening toothpaste alone.
For professional teeth whitening in Wilmington, MA, or to schedule a whitening touch-up, call Smile Life Dental at (978) 657-4550.