Accidental dental damage

Posted on: 23 July 2018

Professional teeth whitening can produce dramatic results, but many people are disappointed to find that the bright whiteness still fades. As stains start to build up again on your teeth, you might notice that they return to a slightly yellow shade. Here are five things you can do to slow down this return to the norm so you can enjoy having a brighter smile for longer.

1. Stop Smoking

Professional teeth whitening is a fantastic procedure for removing nicotine stains. However, if you continue to smoke, your teeth will quickly take on a yellow sheen again. Set your quit date and use nicotine replacement patches to help you stay on track with your plan to become a non-smoker. Quitting smoking not only makes the effects of your teeth whitening procedure last longer, but it can also improve the overall health of gums and teeth.

2. Avoid Staining Drinks and Foods

Some drinks are notorious for causing dental staining. The biggest culprits are black tea, red wine and coffee, but many healthy foods can also cause stains. For example, blackberries and blueberries contain natural compounds that darken teeth.

While it wouldn't be healthy to give up every food that can affect the colour of your teeth, you can make some simple substitutions to reduce staining. For example, add a splash of milk to your morning coffee to reduce its staining power, and opt for white wine rather than red with dinner.

3. Rinse Your Mouth After Eating or Drinking

As well as making changes to your diet, you can also reduce the staining power of foods and beverages by rinsing with water right after you eat or drink. Simply hold water in your mouth, swish it around between your teeth and spit it out again to wash traces of staining foods and drinks from your teeth.

4. Floss Daily

Dental plaque and tartar can cause your teeth to turn an unattractive yellow shade. Prevent the buildup of these substances by flossing your teeth every day. Flossing removes traces of plaque from the hard-to-reach places between your teeth that your toothbrush cannot reach.

5. Use a Whitening Toothpaste

Using a whitening toothpaste every day may help to extend the effects of a professional whitening treatment. Whitening toothpastes contain abrasive ingredients that scrub stain-causing chemicals from food and drink away from your teeth, preventing the build-up of stains. Your dentist can recommend a toothpaste for you.