Teeth whitening is a popular way to enhance your smile. Whether you whiten at home or at the dentist’s office, you invested time and money into a brighter smile, so how can you make the results last as long as possible?
You can trust Opalescence™ whitening to deliver results that can last a year or more.
Depending on your dental history and lifestyle, different types of teeth whitening will be better suited to your needs. Regardless of which product you use, multiple factors influence how white your teeth can get and how long those results last. Understanding these factors can help you put together a whitening routine that will help you achieve a glow that lasts.
In general, the best way for you to smile brighter, longer is to consistently brush and floss your teeth, visit your dentist regularly, and perform touch-up whitening when needed.
Can my diet impact the longevity of my teeth whitening results?
Certain foods and drinks like coffee, wine, tea, grape juice and cola can stain your teeth. It was previously recommended that you avoid them while whitening your teeth, but recent studies show that diet will not affect the results of your whitening treatment. So, you can keep drinking your morning coffee in between treatments and still see excellent results. Just remember not to eat, drink, or smoke while wearing whitening trays!*
However, these foods and drinks can still stain your teeth after whitening, so keep that in mind when you plan your whitening routine. Fortunately, touch-up treatments are quick and easy, helping you get that bright, white smile back.
What other factors impact my teeth whitening results?
Things like dental trauma, age, smoking, and some medications like tetracycline may affect how much your teeth whiten and the length of your whitening results.
- Smoking: Smoking will stain your teeth. Like certain foods and drinks, you can smoke between treatments, and touch-up treatments are recommended.
- Age: As you get older, the top layer of your teeth, the enamel, thins, exposing the underlying dentin. Dentin typically looks yellow. Older people can still expect excellent results with teeth whitening!
- Dental trauma: If you’ve injured or chipped your teeth, you might notice they are discolored or gray. These teeth can be whitened with a dentist’s help!
- Medication: People who took medication like tetracycline as a child can develop teeth that look yellow or gray. Because this discoloration is deeper in the tooth and not on the surface like food stains, a dentist will be best able to treat these teeth. However, our at-home whitening products have been shown to be successful for improving esthetics of teeth affected by staining from medications like tetracycline.
What else can I do to make my teeth whitening results last?
Regardless of your diet or lifestyle, one of the best things you can do to maintain your bright, white smile is develop an oral care routine. This includes brushing and flossing your teeth, as well as regular dental checkups.
- Brushing and flossing your teeth daily helps keep your teeth healthy and removes plaque. Over time, plaque can harden and become tartar, which can make your teeth look yellow.
- Looking for a good whitening toothpaste? Opalescence™ Whitening Toothpaste actively removes surface stains for whiter teeth, so you can easily maintain your whitening results at home.
- By visiting your dentist regularly, they can treat any oral health concerns and help you personalize a whitening routine that keeps your smile brighter. Plus, they can help remove any pesky tartar that impacts the color of your teeth.
- If you need help locating a dentist that offers Opalescence whitening, use our tool!
*See IFU for use directions and precautions.
