How to Extend the Results of Teeth Whitening

You just left the dental office after a professional teeth whitening. You can’t stop smiling because it feels great to have beautiful, dazzling teeth… but you wonder how long your results will last.

There isn’t a simple answer to that question. How long your teeth whitening will last depends on factors like what you eat and drink and your personal tooth brushing habits. 

However, Maria Victoria Sebastian, DDS, at Dentistry With a Smile can help you extend your results. Here’s what you should know about in-office teeth whitening, along with a few tips for maintaining your bright smile.

Benefits of in-office teeth whitening

Whitening your teeth at home may be convenient, but over-the-counter products can’t give you the same results as a professional in-office whitening with the Philips Zoom!® system. Philips Zoom! gets your teeth up to eight shades lighter in just 45 minutes.

We evaluate the current shade of your teeth and determine how many shades lighter you want to go. Since the strong chemicals in teeth whitening products can irritate your mouth, we carefully protect the soft tissues.

Then we apply the Zoom! whitening gel over your teeth and expose them to the Zoom! blue light. The blue light accelerates the process, producing a dazzling smile.

Extend your results with take-home whitening kits

After you see the incredible results of your Zoom! teeth whitening, you’ll want to know how you can keep that smile for as long as possible. One way is to use a Philips Zoom! teeth whitening kit at home. 

These professional-grade kits are only available from dentists because we make sure you get the best whitening product and the right strength for your needs. We also customize a tray to fit your mouth. This tray holds the Philips Zoom! product against your teeth.

You choose between an at-home kit that you use twice daily (in the morning and evening) or one that you wear at night. Both refresh your professional whitening, producing noticeable results in two weeks.

Self-care tips for keeping your teeth bright

You can slow down teeth staining by following these tips:

Avoid acidic foods and beverages

Some foods are naturally acidic, while others have acids added to them to improve flavor. Whether natural or added, frequent exposure to these acids erodes tooth enamel. These eroded areas are vulnerable to staining and tooth decay. A few examples of high-acid products include carbonated beverages, fruit juice, vinegar, and sour candies.

Here’s an important tip: Don’t brush your teeth right after consuming acidic products. The brush rubs the acid across the enamel and worsens its impact. Instead, rinse with water after eating and wait 30 minutes to brush.

If you can’t swish with water, chewing sugar-free gum stimulates saliva production (to cleanse teeth) and neutralizes the acid.

Brush twice daily 

Brushing every time you eat does the best job of removing the remnants of foods and beverages that stain your teeth, like coffee, tea, red wine, cranberry juice, and berries.

Eliminating the pigments before they seep into your enamel prevents or slows down the staining that eventually requires another teeth whitening treatment. However, these pigmented foods are often acidic, so don’t brush immediately after your meal.

Following good dental hygiene also removes plaque that sticks to your teeth. Getting rid of the plaque prevents decay and slows down staining.

Use a whitening toothpaste

Though a whitening toothpaste won’t remove deep stains, it contains ingredients that eliminate surface stains better than regular toothpaste. Some whitening brands contain abrasives that polish your teeth, while others may include peroxide or chemicals that dissolve stains.

When buying a whitening product, look for a seal of approval from a dental organization, such as the American Dental Association Seal of Acceptance.

If you have questions about how to extend your teeth whitening, don’t hesitate to connect with Dentistry With a Smile. Call or book an appointment online today.