How to maintain your smile white?

Good Oral Hygiene

Continue thorough brushing and flossing. A clean tooth resists staining better. Consider a whitening toothpaste for maintenance; these have mild abrasives that can help polish away everyday stains (but note they won’t dramatically whiten like a bleaching agent, they just help prevent new stains).

No Smoking

Tobacco is notorious for causing yellow-brown stains that penetrate tooth enamel. Avoiding smoking or tobacco use not only keeps your teeth brighter but also improves overall oral (and general) health.

Touch-up Treatments

It’s normal for teeth to gradually accumulate some stains again over time, depending on diet and habits. The good news is, you can do periodic touch-ups with your take-home trays. Many patients will do a night or two of whitening every few months, or a short course once a year, to refresh the brightness. If you only did in-office whitening, we can provide you with trays or even a one-time in-office touch-up down the road. Because you’ll have a baseline of how white your teeth got, touch-ups are usually quick.

Watch Staining Foods/Drinks

Common culprits for staining include coffee, tea, red wine, cola, berries, curry, and smoking. You don’t have to avoid them entirely, but moderation helps. When you do consume dark beverages, using a straw can minimize contact with front teeth. Rinse your mouth with water after consuming staining foods/drinks to reduce their effect.

Regular Dental Cleanings

Getting your teeth cleaned professionally every 6 months (or as advised) will remove surface stains and tartar, keeping your smile bright and healthy. Sometimes people think their whitening faded, but a lot of it can be just new surface staining which a cleaning can resolve.

Mindful of Extreme Hot/Cold Post-Whitening

Immediately after whitening (especially in-office), your teeth might be a bit more sensitive. Usually we advise avoiding extremely cold or hot foods/drinks for the rest of the day to avoid discomfort.