5 Ways to Preserve the Whiteness of Your Newly Bleached Teeth

Once your teeth have been professionally whitened, the new coloring may not be permanent. New dental stains can be absorbed into the pores of your teeth to cause more discoloration. Here are a few ways to preserve the whiteness of your teeth after a bleaching session.

Avoid foods and drinks that have deep pigments.

Darkly colored foods and beverages can easily restain the teeth. Pigments and colorants that give edible substances their dark hues can become trapped in the pores of the teeth. If your teeth have been recently whitened, avoiding dark substances, such as coffee, raspberries, tomatoes, and tea, can help keep your teeth white. However, if the dietary restrictions seem too severe, simply rinse your mouth thoroughly with water immediately after ingesting the deeply pigmented substances. This should help dilute the pigments and rinse them away before your teeth have thoroughly absorbed them.

Chew whitening gum.

Whitening gum can also help preserve the whiteness that you obtained through your bleaching session. The gum, which contains whitening ingredients, such as titanium dioxide and baking soda, can help polish away dental stains that are near the surface of the enamel. Some whitening gums even contain malic acid, which is naturally found in substances such as vinegar and strawberries. This acid helps soften dental stains for easy removal.

Brush with strawberries.

If you prefer to apply malic acid using a completely natural product, you can brush your teeth with crushed strawberries. After brushing allow the berries to remain in place for a few moments. Then rinse the mixture out and brush with your usual toothpaste.

Brush with baking soda.

For a natural remedy to help preserve the whiteness of your teeth, consider brushing with a loose paste made of baking soda and water. The abrasiveness of the powdery baking soda makes a great tooth polisher. Just be sure to avoid brushing with too much vigor. Abrasive substances can damage the enamel if too much pressure is applied during their application.

Use a whitening mouth rinse.

A whitening mouth rinse can also be used to help keep your teeth white. Most commercial rinses contain bleaching ingredients such as hydrogen peroxide. However, you can make a homemade version of a whitening rinse by mixing an equal amount of water in a three-percent hydrogen peroxide solution. You swish the liquid about the mouth as you would a typical mouthwash.

To learn more ways to maintain the whiteness of your teeth after having them bleached, schedule a consultation with a cosmetic dentist. The dentist may even suggest professional at-home products for avoiding additional staining.

For more information, talk to a cosmetic dentist in your area.