How to Keep Your Dentures Clean
Dentures play an essential role in replacing missing teeth and restoring your confidence, too. Best of all, they’re easy to care for if you follow these simple steps.
Protect Your Teeth Whitening Results with These 5 Tips
Professional teeth whitening at Dr Taylor’s Family Dental Center is one of the best — and fastest — ways to improve your appearance and confidence. In-office whitening treatments use special gels and liquids designed to penetrate teeth and remove stains so your smile looks whiter, brighter, and healthier in an hour or less.
Once your smile looks beautiful, you want to do all you can to keep it that way. In this post, Marvin Taylor, DDS, and his team offer five simple steps to help.
1. Watch what you eat — and drink
Natural and artificial pigments are significant causes of tooth stains, and for good reason: When we eat and drink foods and beverages containing deep colors, some of those pigments remain on the tooth surfaces. When they penetrate, they can cause stains and dullness that persist even after brushing.
Acidic foods and drinks can be problematic, too, because they temporarily soften tooth enamel, making it easier for pigments to penetrate and cause stains. Berries, tomato products, coffee and tea, red wine, and condiments like mustard and soy sauce are all culprits, and so are citrus fruits.
You can’t avoid all these foods and drinks, nor would you want to: plenty contain vitamins and minerals that support good health. Instead, be mindful of what you’re consuming, use a straw with pigmented or acidic beverages, and rinse your mouth after eating to remove pigments left behind.
2. Use proper brushing and flossing techniques
Brushing and flossing remove staining pigments when you follow the correct technique. Brush for two minutes twice daily, including once before bed, and floss before bed, too. Learn the best ways to brush at this website, and find a step-by-step guide to flossing here.
Use a whitening toothpaste and rinse, but ask Dr. Taylor for recommendations to avoid damaging the protective layer of enamel. Remember: Foods and drinks can temporarily soften enamel, so wait at least a half hour after meals and snacks before you brush, or rinse well instead.
3. Avoid tobacco products
Whether you smoke them, chew them, or hold them in your mouth, tobacco products can stain your teeth, leaving behind a yellowish residue that can make your teeth look dingy, diseased, and old. Quitting smoking helps preserve the results of your whitening treatment and reduces your risks of gum disease and tooth loss.
You can’t avoid these problems with vaping, either. Some vaping products contain nicotine or other chemicals or substances that can stain your teeth, too.
4. Ask about touch-up products
No home products can get your teeth as white and bright as a professional whitening treatment, but some can help prolong your results. Ask Dr. Taylor about whitening pastes, rinses, and at-home kits to help whiten your teeth between professional treatments. Be sure to use all products as directed to avoid damage or irritation.
5. Have regular cleanings
Finally, one of the best ways to keep your teeth looking their best is to visit Dr. Taylor twice a year for regular cleanings. During your visit, we use special tools and polishes to gently remove superficial stains on the tooth surfaces and between teeth. Plus, we remove layers of hard, yellowed tartar that you can’t remove with brushing and flossing.
Having your teeth cleaned before your whitening session is essential. Your cleaning removes tartar and plaque that could otherwise interfere with your whitening, leaving you with uneven results. Your checkup also allows us to fix tiny cracks or address other issues that can cause sensitivity or lead to interior tooth stains.
Enjoy your most beautiful smile
Like any oral health treatment, whitening works best when you stick to a routine. By following these simple steps — and scheduling additional whitening treatments as needed — you can enjoy a whiter, brighter, more beautiful smile.
With office hours available seven days a week and four experienced providers, it’s easy to keep your smile healthy and beautiful. Learn more about our professional whitening treatments by calling 248-681-8100 or requesting an appointment online at Dr. Taylor’s Family Dental Center in Waterford, Michigan, today.
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