Teeth become discoloured over time due to diet, smoking and poor oral hygiene. Yellow or grey teeth affect your appearance and self-confidence but can also have an impact on your overall oral health. Many stains are due to plaque build-up, which can contribute to tooth decay and gum disease.
Fortunately, there are many ways that you can whiten your smile, and keep it looking its best. Here are our tips for how to keep teeth white before and after teeth whitening.
In-Practice Teeth Whitening Treatment
Professional teeth whitening treatment is an effective and reliable way to bring back your dazzling smile.
At Bay Dental Studio, we can whiten your teeth in just one appointment at our practice. This in-practice treatment minimises the time you spend in the clinic and ensures that your gums, lips, and mouth are appropriately protected.
Before your teeth whitening treatment, your dentist professionally cleans your teeth to remove plaque and tartar. Then coats your gums in protective rubber gel before using a gentle retractor to hold open your gums and lips.
The dentist paints the whitening agent directly onto your teeth and shines the special Philips Zoom light onto these teeth. This light acts as a catalyst for the teeth whitening process, activating the bleaching agent and causing it to break down and disperse stains. The dentist can repeat this process 3 or 4 times, depending on the level of staining. Each round takes only 15 minutes so you can achieve a whiter smile in under an hour.
By the end of the session, you’ll be astounded by the results. Philips Zoom whitening light can brighten your teeth by up to 8 shades in one hour-long application.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening Treatment
At Bay Dental Studio, we also offer take-home treatment. We offer safe and effective Opalescence teeth whitening gel which works to whiten your teeth without the need for highly concentrated bleaching agents.
The Opalescence formula uses oxygen molecules in the gel which react with all the discoloured molecules on your teeth’s surface to make them several shades lighter. Our dentists at Bay Dental will create personalised tray moulds that fit perfectly around your teeth.
The take-home whitening process takes approximately 2 weeks to lighten your teeth significantly. While this may be longer than some other at-home kits, Opalescence is an easy, safe and non-invasive form of teeth whitening treatment developed by dentists.
How to Keep Teeth White After Treatment: Change Your Diet
Following teeth whitening treatments, there are several things you can do to ensure that you keep your teeth white.
Try to avoid consuming too much dark-pigmented food and beverages that leave stains on your teeth.
These products include:
- Coffee
- Tea
- Red wine
- Soda
- Soy sauce
- Curry
- Tomato sauces
- Balsamic vinegar
You don’t need to eliminate these foods from your diet completely. However, limiting the amount and taking post-meal precautionary measures can prolong the results of your teeth whitening treatment.
After eating or drinking any of these items, rinse your mouth with water and brush your teeth to prevent a build-up of stains.
How to Keep Teeth White After Treatment: Practice Good Oral Hygiene
Another effective method of teeth whitening is to practice good, effective daily oral hygiene.
Brush your teeth twice per day
Brushing your teeth twice per day; once in the morning and evening before bed removes food particles and tartar that cause discolouration. Make sure to brush your teeth properly. Hold the toothbrush out at a 45° angle to your teeth, move the brush in small circular motions, and up and down to cover every surface of each tooth. Don’t rinse with mouthwash immediately after, because you don’t want to wash away the beneficial fluoride from your toothpaste.
Rinsing with fluoridated mouthwash
Rinsing with mouthwash once per day helps to prevent tooth decay. Wait until approximately 30 minutes after brushing, or choose an alternative time to rinse such as after lunch.
Use teeth whitening toothpaste
Whitening toothpaste contains slightly abrasive particles to scrub stains from teeth. So you should only use whitening toothpaste 2-3 times per week to prevent damage to the tooth enamel.
Book a Consultation With an Experienced Dentist
If you’re considering teeth whitening treatments, or want more advice on proper oral hygiene, book a consultation with our qualified dentist at Bay Dental Studio in Sydney. Dr Barwin Yee can advise you on the best course of action to take when it comes to teeth whitening treatment.
He will also be able to inform you of any other dental work you might need, such as a dental restoration. In these instances, he will carry out this work once he’s completed the whitening treatment, so that you can keep an even colour across all your teeth for a seamless smile.
In Sum
There are many ways to restore beautiful white colour to your teeth. Teeth whitening treatments provided by a dentist are an easy and safe procedure that makes your smile shine several shades lighter.
If you want to keep that restored colour, it’s essential to practice good oral hygiene, as well as limit food and drinks that will discolour and stain your teeth.
Call us on (02) 9327 6856 to book a consultation with Bay Dental Studio today.
