Teeth whitening is temporary but the average lifespan of whitening treatment ranges from 6 months to 3 years. There are many maintenance tips and tricks that can help extend the lifespan of your whitened teeth.
Your priority should be to practice good oral hygiene by brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing once per day. You should use a soft-bristle toothbrush so you don’t damage your enamel along with fluoride toothpaste.
The ADA recommends that you get a dental cleaning and checkup every 6 months. Making sure you go for your regular teeth cleanings will help to remove any surface stains that build up from plaque and consuming staining foods and drinks. You’ll want to generally avoid highly pigmented and staining foods and drinks as well as smoking.
These activities can introduce discoloration to your newly pearly white teeth. A whitening treatment won’t last forever but regularly consuming coffee, soda, and red wine will ensure that your results fade sooner than desired. If you can’t give up staining drinks altogether, try drinking through a straw so they don’t come into contact with your teeth.’
If you’re interested in getting a set of pearly white teeth, contact us at Scripps Rock Dental today to schedule an appointment with Dr. Anthony Hatch or Dr. Shivi Gupta.
Follow-up whitening treatments or touch-ups are the best way to keep your teeth white in the long term. On the low end, some patients will notice surface stains reappearing within 6 months. However, other patients may have results that last for a few years.
Since the lifespan of your treatment and your tooth’s sensitivity varies, how often you should get your teeth whitened will also vary. You should be able to touch up your whitening treatment within 3 months.
The dentist will look at your teeth and be able to tell you if it’s necessary or not but you should be able to see this visually yourself. If you have more sensitive teeth, you may want to wait longer in between treatments.
Yes, teeth whitening can cause temporary tooth sensitivity. If you already have sensitive teeth, there are steps you can take to reduce your discomfort which include:
- Reducing your frequency of treatments
- Reducing the duration of exposure to peroxide
- Using desensitizing gel
- Using toothpaste for sensitive teeth
Keep in mind that any tooth sensitivity you feel after whitening treatment is only temporary and is a reaction from the peroxide penetrating your tooth enamel. The peroxide causes demineralization which strips minerals from the enamel and increases porosity.
Your tooth’s dentinal tubules, which are connected to the nerves, become exposed, causing sensitivity to sensations like air and hot and cool temperatures. However, the minerals will be restored to the enamel within about 48 hours and so the sensitivity will dissipate.
Avoid Damaging Foods
There are some foods that can wear down sealants quickly. Avoid eating hard candies, crunching ice cubes, and chewy foods like gummies or toffee. These high sugar foods should generally be limited anyway, as they promote tooth decay.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
Follow good oral hygiene practices such as regular brushing and flossing to prevent cavities. Schedule follow up appointments with Dr. Gupta or Dr. Hatch every six months.
Don’t Use Your Teeth As Tools
Avoid using your teeth to chew or tear anything other than food.
Chewing hard foods like popcorn kernels or nuts with your veneers could cause them to wear down or break over time. Use your molars instead.
You should also never use your teeth or veneers to chew non-food objects, or to help you rip tape, open plastic bags, and for other such purposes.
Make sure you brush twice a day for two minutes, maintain a good diet, and see Dr. Gupta or Dr. Tony for a teeth cleaning and oral exam every six months.
Chewing hard foods like popcorn kernels or nuts with your veneers could cause them to wear down or break over time. Use your molars instead.
You should also never use your teeth or veneers to chew non-food objects, or to help you rip tape, open plastic bags, and for other such purposes.
Most patients without major tooth decay can benefit from sealants. Here are some factors for eligibility
AGE
Children with new molars are excellent candidates for sealants. It will protect against decay.
MINOR DECAY
Adults with minor decay can benefit from sealants. Any severe decay may require fillings or crowns.
FRAGILE TEETH
Any person with fragile teeth prone to decay can benefit from this preventative measure.
Chewing hard foods like popcorn kernels or nuts with your veneers could cause them to wear down or break over time. Use your molars instead.
You should also never use your teeth or veneers to chew non-food objects, or to help you rip tape, open plastic bags, and for other such purposes.
Make sure you brush twice a day for two minutes, maintain a good diet, and see Dr. Gupta or Dr. Tony for a teeth cleaning and oral exam every six months.
Chewing hard foods like popcorn kernels or nuts with your veneers could cause them to wear down or break over time. Use your molars instead.
You should also never use your teeth or veneers to chew non-food objects, or to help you rip tape, open plastic bags, and for other such purposes.
.svg)
.svg)
© Scripps Rock Dental 2021 | Website by Wonderist Agency | Privacy Policy
.png){kind=icon}
