The Best Tips to Keep Your Teeth White After Dental Bleaching

Everybody wants a flashy Hollywood smile! You would not believe how many people visit our dental office in St. Albert, interested in cosmetic dentistry.

Why? Teeth whitening treatment in St. Albert boosts people’s self-esteem. Many studies have shown that when a person improves their appearance, it has an impact on their self-confidence. They smile more, they feel happier, and they reduce their risk of suffering from depression.

Look no further to know more about teeth whitening near you and what to do for the results to last longer.

Why Do Teeth Get Dark?

Ah, why can’t they stay white? First of all, teeth are not naturally white. The responsible for a tooth’s color is the dentin, not the enamel. The enamel is the outer layer of a tooth, and it is translucent. Beneath it, it lays the dentin, which, depending on many factors, will make your teeth look yellowish or greyish.

Among the factors that pigment the dentin, you can find the following:

• Daily habits – Such as smoking tobacco or using it in another form.
• Intake of antibiotics – Doxycycline and some mental health medications stain your teeth.
• Pigmented foods – If you tend to eat pigmented foods like chocolate, and drink dark drinks, such as red wine, black tea, and coffee, your teeth will get darker over time.
• Genetics – Due to genetics, some people have darker dentin than others.
• Aging – Over the years, the enamel wears down, and the dentin is more exposed, making your teeth look darker.

Options to Whiten Your Teeth

You may whiten your teeth through multiple systems, such as:

• Whitening toothpaste – It is efficient for surface stains only.
• Whitening strips – Consult your dental professional before starting since they can harm your teeth if you are not careful during application.
• In-office teeth whitening – It is a safe way to whiten your teeth. Your dental professional will apply a bleaching agent (carbamide or hydrogen peroxide) to the surface of your teeth in a single appointment. The results are immediate.
• At-home teeth whitening – Your cosmetic dentist will advise you on what product and concentration are best for you, and provide you with a set of trays for you to apply the bleaching agent on them and wear them at home.

Among the treatments described above, in-office and at-home teeth whitening work best. Choosing one or another will depend on how fast you want to see results and how much you want to spend on the treatment. In-office teeth whitening is more expensive because it is done in one way, supervised by your cosmetic dentist.

You must follow some tips to make the best out of the treatment.

Tips to Keep Your Teeth White, After Teeth Whitening

• During the first 48 hours after treatment, avoid pigmented foods and beverages. Also, if you are a smoker, avoid doing so during this time; otherwise, it can severely impact the shade of white of your new teeth.
• After the first 48 hours, you should still be aware of what you eat and drink. Avoiding colored foods and drinks is advisable, and if you are in doubt about if they would or wouldn’t stain your teeth, you may think about if they would stain a white shirt or not. If the answer is yes, avoid it, if possible.
• You may use a straw when drinking beverages with staining potential, such as dark sodas.
• When drinking alcohol, it’s best to choose light mixers, light soda.
• Ask your dental professional when it would be time to visit a dental clinic near you for touch-ups.

If you have any other questions, feel free to contact our dental offices. We are looking forward to helping you.