So you’ve just had your teeth professionally cleaned or whitened—congratulations! A whiter smile can help you feel more confident, accentuate your best features, and improve and prolong your overall dental hygiene. Now, all you need to do is maintain your newfound gorgeous smile with Dr. Russo Dentistry’s proven care process.
Maintain your Brushing Technique
Now that your smile is brighter, you may be tempted to brush harder to keep it that way. Don’t! Hard brushing can actually reverse the effects of a whitening treatment by wearing away your teeth’s protective enamel layer. Plus, overbrushing can inflame your gums—making your smile look less healthy overall. Try to maintain a gentle, regular routine instead to ensure your smile stays fresh.
Use At-Home Touch-Up Methods
Tooth-whitening rinses, strips, and toothpastes along with routine dental care can help maintain a bright white smile. Just make sure you don’t use more than directed as that, too, can have adverse effects on your teeth and gum health.
Eat Foods that Protect your Teeth
We’ve all heard about how acidic and sugary foods are bad for your teeth, but did you know some foods can improve oral hygiene? Any food rich in calcium—including cheese, leafy greens, and certain nuts like almonds—can help preserve the strength of your tooth enamel. Naturally crunchy snacks like carrots and apples can also help cleanse your teeth so bacteria won’t build up between brushing, so get cracking!
Don’t Forget About Gums!
When your teeth are newly whitened, you may tend to focus on them—forgetting about gum care. This is also a mistake as healthy gums protect and maintain a bright smile. Routine flossing helps ward off yellowing on the sides of your teeth while using a gingivitis-fighting rinse keeps your teeth shiny as well as bacteria-free.
Use Straws
When sugary or acidic drinks can’t be avoided, simply use a straw to ensure they don’t come in direct contact with the surface of your teeth. That way, you can still enjoy your favorite beverages in moderation without risk of undoing your whitening treatment. Plus, many retailers now offer eco-friendly alternatives to plastic straws to protect the planet as well as your smile!
Continue Routine Dental Visits
The best way to ensure lasting results from your last dental visit or procedure is with regular follow-up with your dental professional. No one knows better than your dentist, who can use years of experience as well as knowledge of your unique needs to help guide you through your best dental care routine.
You can get started today with a comprehensive consultation and learn how to get and maintain your personal best smile sooner than you think with Dr. Russo Dentistry!
