How Often Should You Whiten Your Teeth?

Almost anyone you’d meet would love to have that Hollywood smile. It’s that kind of smile that makes other people envious. Picture-perfect pearly whites will always command attention; this might be why we say that a smile can light up a room.

In this day and age, beauty has a lot of say, and one of the ways you can enhance your looks is by seeking teeth whitening in Pocahontas, IA. Our dentist would have turned your smile into legendary status in just a few moments. However, the real game begins after the procedure. There is a little price to pay to maintain that sparkly smile.

So, if you are like most people, you must be wondering how often you should whiten your teeth.

How Often Should You Whiten Your Teeth?

When you come in for teeth whitening, you might hope that your teeth will still be sparkly for life when the procedure is done. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. Your teeth will still need upkeep, just like the rest of your body.

As you already know, it is good practice to return to our dentist in 50554 for teeth whitening services once every three months. But in most cases, there will be no dramatic dulling of your smile.

Plus, this visit will also give our dentist near you a chance to examine your teeth and see if there are any issues that the whitening effects might hide. Sometimes tooth damage can be harder to spot when your teeth are dazzling.

But if you underwent in-office teeth whitening, it is best that you get a touch-up done after a year. You can do home touch-ups in between to ensure that you maintain the shine.

Touch-Ups versus First-Time Teeth Whitening

The first-time teeth whitening, the process will take a bit longer to ensure that the surface stains are removed. But after the right shade is attained, you must go home and wait for touch-ups.

When it comes to touch-ups, it depends on lifestyle and diet. You will need touch-ups more often if you drink plenty of coffee, red wine, and other foods that stain the teeth.

Is It Possible to Whiten Your Teeth Too Much?

Yes, it is possible! This will be the case when you ignore our dentist’s instructions and choose to whiten your teeth every other day. Remember, it isn’t just about your teeth. Your gums are also at risk and are more sensitive to teeth-whitening solutions. If you expose your gums to peroxide-based gels daily, you can cause chemical burns or even bleach your gums.

On the other hand, if your teeth are overexposed to bleach, your enamel might erode, making your teeth develop white spots. These white spots cannot come out through teeth whitening since this is a structural issue and has nothing to do with color.

How Can You Make Your Teeth Whitening Last Between Visits?

Three months or even a year might seem short, but a lot occurs within this period. If you wish to maintain the shine on your smile, there are a few tricks that you must muster, and they are:

• Don’t Smoke

Smoking is bad for you; no form of tobacco is good for you. In any case, smoking isn’t good for your sparkly teeth. Tobacco contains two components, nicotine, which turns yellow when exposed to oxygen, and tar, which is brown. When you combine these two components, your smile will definitely turn yellow in a heartbeat.

• Avoid Teeth-Staining Foods and Drinks

A myriad of drinks and foods will stain your teeth, even if they are perfectly fine for your health. While there will be no need to remove them from your diet, you must limit your intake and ensure that you drink plenty of water while consuming them.

You might need to watch for foods and drinks such as red wine, berries, coffee, some teas, etc.

• Keep A Straw On Hand

Straws will be handy since they will help you avoid the damage from teeth-staining drinks. It might look odd to drink your wine using a straw, but it will surely come in handy when you drink sugary drinks and artificially colored drinks from staining your teeth.

• Brush After Each Meal

You cannot skip brushing your teeth; you might need to brush more often to ensure that you remove the stains from your teeth. Plus, brushing your teeth will ensure your teeth stay clean and healthy.

Do you still have questions about teeth whitening in Pocahontas, IA? Contact us at Pocahontas Dental Associates; we would love to help you.