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How to Keep Your Teeth White after Your Whitening Treatment

You just had your teeth whitened, and you can’t stop looking at how sparkling white they are (we know!). It’s an incredible feeling to have a healthy, beautiful smile, which is why it’s important to take the right steps to preserve its beauty. While teeth whitener does not last forever, these tips will help to make it last longer:

Eat healthy. Just as certain foods contribute to the yellowing of your teeth, certain foods contribute to keeping your teeth white. For example, apples, raw carrot sticks, and celery help to scrub the teeth as you’re chewing. Foods that are high in calcium, such as dairy products, also help to keep the teeth white.
Avoid certain drinks. As you probably already know, red wine, coffee, black tea, and soda all stain the teeth. If you’re not willing to give up these items, you should rinse your mouth with water after drinking, or even drink through a straw. However, after your whitening treatment, your teeth are more susceptible to staining. Therefore, you should try to avoid these drinks for best results.
Maintain proper dental hygiene. Whitening your teeth is not a substitute for poor hygiene. Make sure you brush your teeth (at least twice a day) and floss (at least once a day) to keep your teeth healthy and white.
Get regular cleanings. Your teeth benefit from a deep cleaning that only your dentist can provide, especially freshly whitened teeth. You should visit your dentist twice a year for a professional cleaning. Also, you may need touch-up whitening treatments, to ensure a long-lasting effect. Your dentist will recommend the best toothpastes for you to keep your teeth healthy and white.

By following each of these tips, you’ll keep your smile healthy and white! To learn more about professional teeth whitening, please visit our Teeth Whitening page.

Dr. Jacquie Smiles Featured In Social Lifestyle Magazine

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What You Drink May Affect Your Teeth

Is your smile looking a little less than perfect lately? We’re taught to watch the food we eat, but often forget what we drink has a direct effect on the health of our teeth as well. The tooth enamel is very porous, making it vulnerable to stains. Essentially, colored drinks are absorbed by the teeth and if embedded can lead to that yellow shade we all hate so much. To avoid the staining of your teeth, you should avoid drinking the following:

Wine. I know you won’t be happy about this one, but the acidity of wine softens the tooth enamel, making your teeth more susceptible to staining. While most people are aware red wine can cause the teeth to stain, white wine is equally as damaging. For white teeth, you’ll want to avoid red, white, blush, and all of the above.

Coffee. We took wine away from you and now dare we say coffee too? Yes. Coffee, like wine, is very acidic and causes the tooth enamel to soften. This makes the teeth far more susceptible to staining. Adding milk or cream to the coffee can lessen the staining effects.

Tea. Enough already, right? Well, black teas, which contain tannins, can have the same affect as coffee on the teeth. Drinking at a high temperature also increases its staining ability. You’re better off drinking different tea blends such as herbal, white, green, etc.

Sports drinks. Sports drinks can contain high amounts of sugar and acid, which is just the right mixture for tooth decay. Instead, grab a water bottle (it’s more effective than sports drinks anyway!).

Colored soda. The color in soda instantaneously discolors the teeth. Additionally, the acidity can erode the enamel. Not to mention all of the sugar in soda, which leads to tooth decay.

A good rule of thumb is any drink that has a dark color is likely to stain your teeth. You should stick to drinking water. If you must drink coffee, black tea, etc. you should chew sugar free gum after to remove the stains. If you avoid drinking the drinks on this list, you’ll be amazed how much better off you are.

For more information, visit our page on tooth whitening!