Having your teeth professionally whitened is a great way to enjoy a more youthful, vibrant grin. After the treatment is complete, you probably won’t want to stop smiling — but wouldn’t it be too bad if those gorgeous results were only temporary? If you don’t watch what you eat and care for your teeth properly, they just might be. Keep reading to learn your cosmetic dentist in Las Colinas’s tips for maintaining teeth whitening results!
What Not to Eat
Keeping your teeth the new shade of dazzling white requires, in part, avoiding the things that caused them to turn dark or dingy in the first place. This is especially important in the first day or two following your whitening treatment, as your teeth will be even more susceptible to absorbing the colors of what they are exposed to.
Right after your teeth are whitened, stay away from dark or vibrant foods and beverages, including:
- Black coffee, tea, and dark soda
- Red wine, dark beer
- Dark chocolate
- Ripe berries, cherries
- Tomato sauce, soup, etc.
- Turmeric, curry sauce
- Barbecue sauce
Tricks for Maintenance
Of course, you can’t stay away from highly-pigmented foods and beverages forever. Many of them are some of life’s greatest pleasures, after all. To continue eating more or less what you like while enjoying dazzling white teeth, keep these tricks in mind.
- Rinse your mouth out with water after drinking dark beverages.
- Snack on a piece of cheese while drinking red wine — the calcium fortifies your tooth enamel to help protect it against staining.
- Eat crusty bread with pasta sauce. The crust will help to scrub pigments from the surface of the teeth naturally.
- Drink dark beverages through a straw to keep them from touching the tooth enamel.
- Add milk to your coffee or tea to lighten the shade of the beverage.
Brush, Floss, and Visit the Dentist
In addition to all of the tricks listed above, make sure you are keeping up with your excellent oral hygiene habits to enjoy your whitening results for as long as possible. These include brushing your teeth for two minutes, at least twice a day, and flossing between teeth daily. Visit your dentist every six months (or more often, if needed) for a routine examination and cleaning. Complete these steps regularly and your teeth will not only stay white, they’ll be healthy for a lifetime to come!
About the Practice
21st Century Dental & Sleep Center offers comprehensive dental services from their state-of-the-art practice. Among their cosmetic treatments is 5-minute chairside teeth whitening in Las Colinas with QuickPro by Phillips. To learn more about how you can enjoy dazzling teeth in just 5 minutes or to discuss more on how to maintain your beautiful results, do not hesitate to reach out by calling 972-255-3712 today.