How to Maintain Whitened Teeth
If you just got your teeth whitened, you’re probably happy to have a smile that’s finally free of those unsightly stains. The last thing that you want is for another stain to show up on that brand new, brilliant smile. While there are many ways that your teeth can get stained again, there are things that you can do to reduce those chances as much as possible. Here at the dental office of Tyler McCabe DMD, our goal is to give you a smile that you love, with general dental care to keep it healthy, and cosmetic dentistry to make sure that it always fills you with confidence. We want to help you make sure that whitening treatment keeps your teeth glistening white as long as possible, so here are some helpful tips on how you can keep that smile free from any new stains.
Brush & Floss After Eating
Tooth decay is the fast track to discolored and damaged teeth, and the risk of decay increases the longer that food particles sit on your teeth. The best way to stay ahead and far away from tooth decay is by brushing and flossing after every meal, giving food particles no chance to break down into bacteria and accumulate to form harmful plaque. Just make sure that you’re thorough with your oral hygiene regimen, doing your best to clean all hard to reach areas. If you protect your teeth from decay, they’re more likely to stay white for more much longer. You can also opt to use a whitening toothpaste to get rid of surface stains before they penetrate deep into your enamel. We also recommend using some mouthwash that contains fluoride, since it will help strengthen your teeth and protect them from staining and decay.
Take Precautions With Staining Foods & Drinks
There are certain foods and drinks that are notorious for causing stains, and as someone who just got your teeth whitened, you should be careful around them. Coffee, wine, tea, soda are some of the biggest staining culprits, but all of them have a very simple workaround if you want to avoid surface staining. Drinking all of those liquids through a straw will have the drink completely avoid contact with your teeth, preventing the pigment in them that causes stain from settling into your teeth. If you don’t want to take the risk at all, you also have the option of avoiding them altogether. As an alternative, you can always drink more water, which will actually help wash away bacteria and keep your mouth clean for a longer lasting, healthy smile!
Always Come In For Your Regular Dental Cleanings
A consistent brushing and flossing routine is great, but more often than not, there are still areas in your mouth that you just won’t be able to reach yourself. By coming into your regularly scheduled dental cleanings with Tyler McCabe DMD every 6 months, you get a professional that is a trained expert in keeping smiles clean and healthy that will clear away every little trace of bacteria and plaque from your smile to leave it feeling brand new, and looking as brilliant as it should. If you skip your cleanings, you could be at greater risk of staining due to tooth decay.
Contact Us & Keep Your Smile Shining Bright!
For more helpful tips about how to maintain your newly whitened teeth, or to schedule an appointment for a cleaning or teeth whitening, just contact us at the dental office of Dr. Tyler McCabe DMD. We’ve been providing premier dental care to the families of Ocean Springs, MS for years, and we look forward to showing you what sets our dental practice apart from the rest. If you want a healthy, radiant smile that lasts for a lifetime, choose Dr. Tyler McCabe, DMD for all of your general and cosmetic dental needs!