The color of your teeth makes a big impact on the overall look of your smile. For example, bright white teeth can make you appear younger and give your face a more vibrant look, while stained teeth can make you look older and less attractive. Nowadays, there are a variety of ways to whiten your teeth all the way from over the counter treatments to professional whitening services. However, the results of teeth whitening procedures are not permanent. The lifespan of your whitening results ultimately will depend on multiple factors and some people may maintain their whitening results longer than others. To make your whitening results last as long as possible, here are five ways to keep your teeth white:
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
To keep your teeth white for as long as possible, you will first need to make sure that you are practicing good oral hygiene. Good oral hygiene keeps your teeth clean and decreases the risk of decay. Your daily dental routine should consist of brushing your teeth twice a day for at least two minutes and flossing daily. It is recommended that you use toothpaste with fluoride on a regular basis to strengthen your enamel, as well as a whitening toothpaste 1-2 times a week to remove stains. To prevent excess plaque from accumulating on the surface of your teeth, it is also recommended to use mouthwash once a day. While plaque is naturally colorless, it can absorb the pigments from foods and beverages and make the teeth look stained.
Use an Electric Toothbrush
In addition to practicing good oral hygiene on a daily basis, you will also want to consider the tool you are using to clean your teeth. While manual toothbrushes can get your teeth clean, electric toothbrushes have been found to be more effective at removing plaque and cleaning your teeth. They are especially effective for people who have trouble brushing their teeth with the proper technique. Nowadays, there are a variety of electric toothbrushes available that can help to improve the effectiveness of your brushing routine.
Watch Your Diet
Another way to keep your teeth whiter for longer is to watch your diet. Specifically, you will want to eliminate or limit the amount of highly pigmented foods and beverages that you consume on a daily basis. This is because these pigmented substances are more likely to stain your teeth, especially if you regularly consume them. Some of the biggest stain culprits are coffee, red wine, curry, and artificially dyed foods. Conversely, foods like broccoli, apples, carrots, strawberries, pineapples, and dairy products like yogurt, cheese, and milk can help preserve the white color of your teeth.
Rinse After Meals
Since we live in a world filled with highly pigmented foods and beverages, another way to keep your teeth white is to rinse your mouth with water or milk after consuming pigmented substances. Not only will this wash away colored pigments and decrease the risk of staining, but it will also help to neutralize the pH of your saliva and protect your enamel from erosion. In some cases, it may also be appropriate to rinse with mouthwash or even brush your teeth about 20 minutes after eating or drinking.
Schedule Regular Cleanings and Touch Ups
Finally to keep your teeth white, you will need to schedule regular dental cleanings approximately once every six months. Like your daily dental hygiene routine, these cleanings are important to remove excess plaque and keep your teeth clean and free from decay. In between dental cleanings, your dentist may also provide you with take-home whitening trays to help maintain your results. However, your teeth will likely stain again in about 1-3 years after your whitening treatment. At this point, you will usually need to have another professional whitening appointment to keep your teeth looking bright and white.
