Ikuta D.D.S

Now that you have gotten your teeth whitened and you are proudly showing off your new smile, it is time to know how best to maintain your whitening efforts. The simplest way to keep your smile from becoming discolored again is to avoid tobacco products and exposure to dark drinks such as soda, tea, coffee, and red wine. We don’t expect you to drink nothing but water, but if you do drink these beverages, try using a straw when you consume them. Using a straw will lessen the amount of liquid that touches your teeth.

Another way to help maintain your smile is to brush your teeth or rinse your mouth immediately after eating and drinking foods that could stain your teeth. This will not only help your whitening efforts, it will also help your overall dental health.

In addition to brushing after meals, you can also use whitening toothpaste to assist in maintenance. It is wise to use these toothpastes with caution because the use of whitening toothpastes has been shown to contribute to permanent long-term staining. The reason for this is that whitening toothpaste tends to be very abrasive and the abrasion can wear down your enamel, exposing the yellow-colored dentin underneath.

Once you have had your teeth whitened it is relatively easy to maintain your smile if you just follow the simple steps above. Also, if you have chosen to have in-office teeth whitening performed, you can always use a whitening kit for touchups. Please contact our office to schedule a complimentary consultation or to ask any questions that you may have about teeth whitening. We are here to help you put your best smile forward. Ikuta Smiles serves patients in the Reedley and Fresno areas of California.