Teeth whitening is a fantastic investment in the appearance of your smile. At Cleveland Smile Center, we use Opalescence Teeth Whitening. White teeth are associated with youth and health, and can make a big difference in your self-esteem. If you’re going to put time and money into getting whiter teeth, make sure you make the most of it with these tips!
Don’t Go Back to Bad Habits After
If you’ve noticed your teeth starting to get yellow, chances are you know the culprits: the food you eat and cigarettes if you are a smoker. The most obvious tooth-staining foods are coffee, tea and red wine. But did you know that berries, chocolate and soda can also cause staining.
A good way to know what would stain your teeth is to know if that same thing would stain your favorite white shirt. To get the most out of a recent whitening procedure, you don’t want to go right back to eating these foods after your teeth whitening treatment!
Teeth can actually be slightly more vulnerable to staining right after whitening than they were before. That’s why many recommend eating only “white” foods afterward. Just think items like white bread, pasta, cauliflower, potatoes, etc..
Know What to Expect
Patients getting their teeth whitened are often concerned with sensitivity after the procedure. Indeed, tooth sensitivity is the main side effect of whitening, but this sensation is temporary and usually goes away in a few hours or days.
It is important to understand how how white your teeth end up. Outside of food habits, the biggest factor in tooth color is actually genetics. If your mom, dad, and other family members all have bright white teeth, chances are you can too. But if the rest of your family has yellowish teeth despite never touching tobacco or coffee, the affects you can expect will certainly be whiter, but maybe not as white.
You should also know that there are certain types of tooth discoloration that whitening can’t really fix, such as fluorosis spots or internal staining that can happen as a result of taking certain antibiotics. That’s one of the reasons it’s a good idea to have a professional teeth whitening at the dentist. The dentist will be able to tell you what to expect and whether you’re a good candidate for the treatment.
Follow Up With At-Home Treatments
After teeth whitening treatment, you can maintain your smile at home. GLO Science Whitening does have at home treatments that may send home after the initial whitening procedure. The At-Home treatment provides you with an opportunity to keep your teeth just as white over the next few weeks and months.
If you choose not to get treatments from your Cleveland Smile Center dentist , you can still maintain your white smile using over-the-counter treatments. However, keep in mind that these are less powerful, require more diligence and patience, and are not as good at getting around the sides of your teeth.
If you are interesting in whitening your smile, be sure to contact our dental team to learn more about Opalescence Whitening.
Have a question? Reach out to us!
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