Do you love the way your teeth look after you get them whitened but hate how they look when the results begin to fade? If so, our Midtown Manhattan dentist offers a wide range of tips to help you maintain a white smile. Then, you can enjoy a beautiful, white, confident smile at all times!
1. Maintain Good Oral Hygiene Habits
One of the easiest ways to maintain a white smile is simply by keeping up with good oral hygiene habits. This means that you brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once per day. Brushing and flossing are essential to remove plaque from the surface of your teeth and beneath the gum line. When plaque isn’t brushed off, it can harden into tartar and cause surface stains not to mention lead to cavities and gum disease. Unless you want yellow teeth, make sure to never skip brushing and flossing.
2. Avoid Foods and Drinks That Stain
Another easy lifestyle change you can make to maintain a white smile is simply avoiding foods and drinks that may stain your teeth. The drinks that stain the most include coffee, tea, dark sodas, and red wine. Foods that stain include berries, tomato-based sauces, curries, soy sauce, and balsamic vinegar. By avoiding these types of foods, you can prevent your teeth from becoming stained.
3. Don’t Smoke
Another easy way to prevent staining and also improve your overall health is to quit smoking. When you smoke a cigarette, all of the toxins coat the surface of your teeth which can cause them to turn yellow. In addition, smoking causes dry mouth which can make you produce less saliva. As a result, the toxins don’t wash off your teeth as quickly which makes them stain faster. Additionally, smoking can result in gum disease and cavities which can affect the overall appearance and health of your smile.
4. Use a Whitening Toothpaste
Maintain your teeth’s white hue by simply brushing your teeth with whitening toothpaste. Although it likely won’t make your teeth appear whiter, it can help you maintain your freshly white hue much longer than with non-whitening toothpaste. If your teeth and gums begin to feel sensitive after using a whitening toothpaste, it might be best to only use the whitening toothpaste a few times per week instead of daily.
5. Drink With a Straw
One way to prevent stained teeth when drinking certain drinks that stain is by drinking through a straw. By drinking through a straw, less liquid will touch the front of your teeth. Drinking through a straw is only effective for preventing tooth stains if you don’t swish the liquid around in your mouth after you take a sip.
6. Drink Lots of Water
Upping your intake of water is never a bad idea. By drinking at least 64 ounces of water per day, and making sure you drink water with all meals, you can help wash away all of the debris and bacteria from your teeth. The less time that food and drinks have to rest on the surface of your teeth, the less likely they will stain your teeth. Make it a habit to drink water and rinse your mouth after every meal or drink that isn’t water.
7. Eat Crunchy Fruits and Vegetables
You can help maintain your white smile and keep your teeth plaque-free by eating more crunchy fruits and vegetables. Crunchy fruits and vegetables like carrots, celery, and apples help stimulate saliva production. In addition, the crunchiness of the food helps scrape plaque off your teeth. By eating more crunchy fruits and vegetables, you can help prevent stains and enhance your oral health.
8. Use an Electric Toothbrush
If you’re still using a manual toothbrush, consider upgrading to an electric toothbrush. Electric toothbrushes work much better to remove plaque and tartar as well as surface stains. Just make sure that you don’t brush your teeth too hard, whether with a manual or electric toothbrush. Otherwise, you can damage your enamel and cause receding gums.
9. Don’t Skip Dental Cleanings
Just like you should brush and floss daily, you should also visit the dentist twice per year. Regular dental cleanings are essential for removing plaque and tartar from your teeth. Your dental hygienist will also remove surface stains which will help your teeth look whiter as well as just be healthier.
10. Get Professional Teeth Whitening
If your teeth aren’t as white as you want them to be, our professional teeth whitening treatment in Midtown Manhattan can help. You can whiten in our office and then use a take-home kit when you want to make touch-ups to your results.
11. Consider Porcelain Veneers
If professional teeth whitening doesn’t last long enough or doesn’t provide you with the results you want to achieve, you might want to consider porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers cover the front surface of your teeth and do not stain. Therefore, any color you choose for your veneers will be your tooth color indefinitely.
Achieve a Whiter Smile in Midtown Manhattan
If you’re unhappy with the color of your teeth, our Midtown Manhattan cosmetic dentist can help. Please contact Appolon Dental Care at (212) 557-8668 to book an appointment with Dr. Appolon today to learn more.
