Things That Shorten The Duration Of Your Teeth-Whitening Results
If you have recently received professional teeth whitening services, you may be quite impressed with your results. A single professional whitening session performed by your dentist can whiten your teeth by several shades. Multiple sessions can result in optimal whitening, leaving you with the pearly white smile that you've always wanted.
Professional dental whitening is chemically based. The process uses peroxide to remove stains that accumulated on the teeth. The stains are usually caused by the teeth's exposure to the colorants and pigments of tobacco, food, or beverages as you smoke, eat, or drink.
Although the whitening effects of a professional teeth-whitening session are significant, they are not considered permanent. There are things that you can do to shorten the duration of your whitening results. Here are a few of them.
Over-consumption of Dark Foods and Drinks
Once your whitening sessions are complete, your teeth start to absorb discoloring pigments again when you consume dark-colored foods and beverages. If you regularly consume deeply pigmented substances, such as coffee or blackberries, it is best to limit your intake. Also, as soon as you are done with your food or drink, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water.
Water helps to dilute the pigments of the substances before they can be absorbed by the tooth enamel. It also rinses away deeply colored food particles that might be left in your mouth after your meal or snack.
Using Regular Toothpaste Only
After your whitening sessions, you dentist may suggest that you use a whitening toothpaste. Although a regular toothpaste typically contains cavity-fighting fluoride compounds, it does not usually include whitening additives.
A whitening toothpaste includes polishing substances, such as sodium bicarbonate and titanium dioxide. The mildly abrasive ingredients help to buff away dental stains that may have deposited on your teeth during the day.
The consistent use of a whitening toothpaste after your whitening treatment can help preserve your treatment results. In addition to the toothpaste, consider chewing whitening gum throughout the day. The gum often has similar whitening ingredients to those included in a whitening toothpaste. Thus, the gum offers additional protection against dental staining.
Failing to Floss
Dental stains can also build up in the tight spaces between the teeth, where a toothbrush may be unable to reach. Thus, flossing should remain an essential part of your daily dental hygiene efforts after your teeth-whitening sessions. If string floss seems too cumbersome to use, select a water flosser to use in its place.
If you are interested in having your teeth whitened, schedule an appointment with a dentist in your local area.
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