6 Easy Ways to Retain Your Beautiful, Bright, White Smile

You’ve wanted a brighter smile for a while now. So, you decided to invest in professional teeth whitening in El Segundo.

Now the question is: How do you maintain your bright smile?

Maintenance can be tricky because so many things can stain your teeth. Foods and beverages, habits, poor oral hygiene, and damaged teeth can all contribute to a less-than-stellar smile.

Thankfully, your El Segundo dental team has some tips to keep your smile brighter for longer. And most of them are incredibly easy to incorporate into your daily life.

How Can You Keep Your Beautiful Smile Bright and White? 6 Tips from Your El Segundo Dentist

Here are a few recommendations to help keep your smile bright after teeth whitening in El Segundo.

1. Practice Good Oral Hygiene

First and foremost, it is imperative to practice good oral hygiene daily, including:

• Brushing at least twice a day
• Brushing for two minutes every time you brush
• Flossing daily (preferably before you go to sleep)

Cleaning your teeth regularly will remove stain-causing molecules before they can adhere to your teeth and cause discoloration.

Why should you brush and floss before bed? It’s best to do this because you have six to nine hours when oral bacteria can go to town on any food particles in your mouth. Removing food particles will help reduce the likelihood of staining and your risk of developing decay.

Two Bonus Tips for Good Oral Hygiene

First, use an electric toothbrush.

Recent studies show that these toothbrushes provide the most thorough cleaning experience at home. You’ll experience less plaque and tartar build-up and significantly less staining. Plus, your teeth won’t be dulled by leftover food particles or plaque. Instead, they’ll be shiny and bright and feel fabulous!

Second, brush after every meal.

Yes, brushing twice a day can be sufficient. However, if you eat foods at meals or during snack time that are sugary or dark, you can end up with extra plaque build-up and staining.

Plaque can make your teeth look dingy, so brushing regularly can keep your teeth looking brighter and healthier. And there are certain foods that easily stain your teeth (more about this in a bit). Brushing after consuming these foods and beverages will keep your teeth nice and bright.

2. Avoid or Reduce Your Consumption of Staining Foods and Beverages

Certain foods can stain your teeth faster than others. These include:

• Coffee
• Tea
• Wine (both white and red)
• Acidic foods (like tomatoes)
• Berries

Reducing or eliminating these foods and beverages can help you maintain a brighter smile. When you do consume these foods, make sure to brush your teeth as soon as possible. Carry a toothbrush with you, or at the very least, rinse your mouth with water after eating.

3. Drink Through a Straw

Try drinking through a straw if you can’t give up your favorite coffee or tea. It might take some getting used to but avoiding dental stains will make it totally worth it.

4. Invest in Restorative and Cosmetic Dental Work

Teeth whitening can only get you so far. You will not get the smile you desire if you have discoloration because of old restorative work or dental decay.

Cosmetic and restorative procedures will ensure a healthy smile while providing you with the brightness you want.

5. Get a Professional Teeth Cleaning Every Six Months

Plaque and tartar build-up can cause staining and dental disease that diminishes the beauty of your smile.

Your El Segundo dentist and hygienist will help keep your teeth and gums healthy. During your cleaning, we’ll also polish your teeth, which helps remove stubborn stains you can’t remove at home.

6. Don’t Use Tobacco Products

Tobacco products aren’t good for you. They can contribute to lung and oral cancers, COPD, heart disease, and more.

And they can stain your teeth. Avoiding smoking or chewing tobacco can help keep your smile bright and healthy.

If you already smoke, talk to your dentist or doctor about ways to quit successfully.

Note: Avoid smoking marijuana, too, as it can cause green stains on the teeth.

What If You Need a Professional Teeth Whitening Touch-Up in El Segundo?

If you’ve whitened your teeth once, there’s a good chance you might need a touch-up from time to time.

Teeth whitening in El Segundo won’t last forever simply because of the effects of daily life. You can think about it like waxing your car. A good wax will make your car shine for quite some time. But it’s not a one-and-done sort of deal. Ideally, you’ll need to wax it again to keep your car looking great.

Similarly, teeth whitening touch-ups are often necessary. As you eat and drink, careful though you may be, your teeth can start to discolor.

Thankfully, with professional teeth whitening touch-ups, you can quickly and easily restore your beautiful, bright smile.

What Are Your Whitening Options from an El Segundo Dentist?

If you’re just starting your teeth whitening journey or need a touch-up, we’ve got you covered. Here are two professional El Segundo teeth whitening options.

• Zoom! Teeth Whitening System: The Zoom! system can help you achieve eight shades of brightness in about an hour. Talk to your dentist to learn more about the Zoom! system and if it’s the best option for your whitening needs.
• At-Home Teeth Whitening: We can provide you with custom teeth whitening trays and professional-grade whitening gel. You can purchase extra gel at our El Segundo dental office and do a touch-up whenever it’s convenient for you (and in the comfort of your own home!).

Do You Want to Fix Your Stained, Discolored Teeth?

If you’re interested in getting or maintaining a beautiful white smile, we invite you to contact your El Segundo dental team.

We will create a custom treatment plan that includes cosmetic, restorative, and preventative dental treatments. Your plan will also identify the best professional teeth whitening options for your needs and goals.

Our team looks forward to helping you get the bright smile of your dreams.

Would you like to brighten your smile? Call El Segundo Modern Dentistry & Orthodontics today! Call 424-277-2671 to chat with our friendly team, or use our online contact form.