Patients with yellowed, stained, or discolored teeth can enhance their smiles with professional teeth whitening. With this in-office treatment, a dental professional applies a bleaching gel to your teeth and activates the whitening agents with concentrated light. Once your teeth look the way you dreamed, you will want to ensure the enhancing effects last as long as possible. Dr. Sahil Goyal, a dentist in Columbia, MD, offers three tips for keeping your teeth bright after a professional whitening treatment.
Avoid staining agents
Teeth can become discolored due to elements beyond a patient’s control, such as age or a side effect of a medication. However, sometimes teeth become stained due to substances put into the mouth. Dark-colored foods and beverages contain tannins that can absorb into tooth enamel and cause tooth discoloration, even after professional teeth whitening treatment. Examples of these include red wine, coffee, and tea. These substances should be avoided or enjoyed in moderation to protect your teeth color.
Practice good oral hygiene
Proper oral hygiene habits can keep your mouth healthy and your enamel strong enough to resist staining. Throughout your day, bacteria in your mouth create a film of plaque over your teeth which eats away at enamel if left alone. This leads to tooth decay and gum disease, which weakens your teeth and leaves them more susceptible to discoloration. Keeping your mouth clean entails brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily. For optimal results, you should floss at night to remove plaque that develops during the day. Rinsing with a mouth wash will eliminate bacteria from spots in your mouth that are difficult to reach with traditional brushing.
Visit your dentist regularly
A major part of a healthy oral hygiene routine is visiting your dentist regularly. During a routine dental appointment, your dentist cleans your teeth by scraping away plaque and tartar in hard-to-reach places of your mouth, such as near the gum line. Your dentist will also examine your teeth and gums for signs of decay or infection and provide treatment if necessary. They can offer fluoride treatment for your teeth to strengthen your enamel and better preserve your teeth color. You can also speak to your dentist at that time about teeth whitening touch-ups to maintain your ideal smile.
Professional teeth whitening available in Columbia, MD
Columbia Family Dentist offers professional teeth whitening and other cosmetic dental treatments to patients in Columbia, MD. Dr. Goyal also specializes in restorative and general dentistry for patients of all ages. To schedule an appointment with us, contact our office online or reach us by phone at 410.670.8211.