How to Maximize Your Teeth Whitening Treatments

If you’ve decided to get professional teeth whitening, you’ll likely feel very happy with the results. Professional teeth whitening is the best way to remove stains that build up on your teeth over time.

The results of teeth whitening aren’t permanent, unfortunately, but you can do certain things to make the treatment last longer. In this post, the providers at Dental Art of South Bay explain how you can maximize your teeth whitening treatments.

Avoid stains

The best way to maximize your teeth whitening treatments is to avoid foods and beverages that stain your teeth. Some of these include:

• Coffee
• Tea
• Red wine
• Berries and fruit juices
• Dark cola (diet or regular)
• Tomato-based sauces
• Soy sauce
• Energy drinks

In addition to not consuming the above, you should also avoid smoking. Tobacco products often stain teeth.

Choose professional teeth whitening

You can try bleaching your teeth at home with over-the-counter products, but the results may not turn out well.

Professional teeth whitening provides superior benefits compared to over-the-counter products, including:

• Increased safety (we take care to protect your gums)
• Higher concentration of the bleaching agent
• Option to boost your whitening procedure with an LED light
• Custom-fit mouth trays

In addition, the dentist first examines your teeth to ensure you’re a good candidate for the procedure.

Use bleaching trays at home

You can take some bleaching trays home from the dentist to keep your smile as white as possible. 

They’re filled with the same strength of bleach that you get at the dentist. You wear them every evening before you go to bed.

Stay on top of exams and cleanings

Keeping up with regular dental exams and cleanings also helps you maintain your whitening results. When you get a professional cleaning, we scrape all of the plaque and tartar off your teeth. This can make them look brighter and cleaner.

Who’s not a good candidate?

Although most people are good candidates for teeth whitening, some are not. You may not be a good candidate because:

• The dentin inside your teeth is stained
• You have other dental work that must be completed first
• Your teeth were stained by using certain antibiotics
• You have fluorosis (too much exposure to fluoride)
• Your teeth have thin enamel, which causes the dentin to be exposed

Sometimes, you still have other options to whiten your teeth. You may choose dental veneers or crowns instead.

Cosmetic dentistry aims to create the most attractive smile possible. Contact the providers at Dental Art of South Bay today.