A white smile is an attractive smile – which is why Downtown Denver Dental offers several ways to brighten your teeth, including professional whitening treatments. Once you’ve added some pearl to your pearly whites, you’ll want to keep them looking beautiful. Fortunately, it’s not too hard! Follow our five tips to maintain a white smile:
- Practice good oral hygiene
- See your dentist regularly for dental cleanings
- Switch up your brushing style
- Skip staining substances
- Take advantage of Whitening for Life
Pay Attention to Your Oral Hygiene
You may get tired of your dentists telling you to brush and floss every day. But doing so is a requirement for keeping your mouth healthy and disease-free – and for keeping them looking great too. These daily oral hygiene habits remove the surface staining that gives your teeth a dingy, dull appearance. Brush at least two times a day and floss once a day to maintain a white smile.
You can use a whitening toothpaste. There are quite a few good ones on the market; we suggest choosing one that has earned the ADA Seal of Approval. You can also mix up your own whitening paste using hydrogen peroxide and baking soda:
- Add small amounts of peroxide to a few teaspoons of baking soda until you get a thick paste
- Gently brush with the mixture for two minutes, using a soft-bristled brush
- Leave it on your teeth for a few minutes
- Make sure you rinse away all traces of the paste
Baking soda is an abrasive, so you’ll need to be careful not to brush too hard. Don’t use this homemade mixture more than once a week.
Maintain a White Smile With Professional Cleanings
Visit our Denver office at least twice a year for professional dental cleanings. Our team uses special equipment and solutions to remove surface stains, polish your teeth, and keep your smile looking bright. Plus we remove bacteria and plaque from areas of your mouth that are tough to reach at home, which helps fight cavities and gum disease. While we suggest visits for this service every six months, you can visit us three or four times a year to maintain a white smile.
Refresh Your Brushing Habits
Many people mistakenly brush too hard, thinking the harder they brush the cleaner their teeth will be. This is a mistake! Don’t try to erase stains by brushing vigorously and/or using a hard-bristled toothbrush. This can actually damage your enamel and cause it to wear away. If that happens, it will be easier to see the yellow dentin, which is located between your tooth’s enamel and pulp. The only way to correct this discoloration is by covering it with a dental restoration like veneers.
Another way to maintain a white smile is by using an electric toothbrush. Electric brushes apply more even and sustained pressure while brushing, which may remove more surface stains than manual brushing.
Avoid Staining Substances as Much as Possible
If a substance can stain your clothes, it can also stain your teeth. Unfortunately, many of them are quite popular, including:
- Coffee
- Red wine
- Soda
- Berries
- Soy sauce
- Balsamic vinegar
It’s best to avoid these substances as much as you can. Make a less harmful substitution when possible. Choose apple or pumpkin pie instead of blueberry or cherry, for example.
It’s obviously difficult to completely eliminate these foods and drinks. Swish your mouth with water periodically as you consume them, if possible. Brush after eating if you can, or rinse your mouth thoroughly with water.
Join Our Whitening for Life Program
The easiest way to maintain a white smile is by joining our Whitening for Life program. You simply pay a one-time fee of $99. You’ll then receive a fresh supply of professional whitening products as long as you visit our Denver office twice a year for dental exams, cleanings, and X-rays.
We also welcome new patients with complimentary QuickPro teeth whitening. It’s a great way to start your relationship with Downtown Denver Dental! To make an appointment, call us today at 303-529-6493. We’d love to help you get and maintain a white smile!