Get Your Teeth Whitened- and Keep Them That Way

The holidays are one of the best times to get your teeth professionally whitened. The last thing you want is to look back at family photos and wish your teeth didn’t look as discolored instead of focusing on the memories you made. Not only can a clean, bright smile lend you a renewed sense of self-confidence, it could even brighten someone else’s day.

You could transform your smile from dull to sparkling with laser teeth whitening, which can make your teeth up to eight shades brighter. While over-the-counter kits are popular, you’ll find the most noticeable and long-lasting results occur only when you have in-office teeth whitening with a dental professional. This is especially true for those with sensitive teeth or gums; bleaching may harm teeth if not done the right way.

However, if you don’t care for your teeth properly after receiving laser whitening, the results won’t last as long as you hoped for. That’s why it’s incredibly important to keep up your dental hygiene routine—even if your teeth are brilliantly white after a treatment, remember that tooth decay, gingivitis, and other oral diseases can still cause a great deal of damage. Many patients equate white teeth with oral health, but that’s not the whole picture. Below are the most effective ways you can keep your teeth white and your entire mouth healthy after receiving laser teeth whitening.

How to Maintain Those Pearly Whites:

• Certain foods and drinks tend to cause greater discoloration to your teeth, most of which have dark, highly-concentrated pigments. Examples include balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, berries, red wine, coffee, and beverages that contain heavy amounts of artificial coloring. Not all of these things are unhealthy and it’s not realistic to completely avoid them. What you can do is drink plenty of water with them and make sure to take extra precaution to clean your teeth afterwards.
• Don’t forget to brush your teeth right after eating or drinking anything that might stain your teeth. The longer the food particles stay in your mouth, the longer they’re clinging to your teeth and causing damage.
• Stop smoking or using chewing tobacco. Not only will it discolor your teeth, it also increases your chances of developing periodontal disease and oral cancer, among a multitude of other adverse health effects.
• Use a whitening toothpaste twice a week to prevent your teeth from yellowing.
• Brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash regularly to kill plaque-causing bacteria.

Choose a brighter, cleaner smile by having professional laser teeth whitening as well as making healthy choices at home. Although the procedure typically costs around $375 or more, ZendyHealth can help you save 20-70% on laser teeth whitening with a board-certified provider.