Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure that helps enhance your smile by making the teeth appear brighter. During this procedure, your dental practitioner will remove food remains trapped between your teeth. While this dental procedure is beneficial, whitening your teeth excessively can damage the enamel, increasing their sensitivity. Here is information elaborating on ways to limit the whitening of your teeth:
Going for Regular Dental Checkups
Regular appointments with a dentist allow you to undergo thorough dental exams like general visual inspections and X-rays. The exams enable a cosmetic dentist to examine the condition or health of your enamel. If your enamel is weak or beginning to get discolored, the dentist tailors appropriate preventive care to minimize the results of teeth whitening. During checkups, a dental practitioner can examine your teeth and gums to determine if you have cavities, periodontitis, or gingivitis.
These gum diseases expose the discolored roots as the gum recedes, causing larger parts of your teeth to appear stained. If you have cavities, the erosion of the enamel by mouth bacteria can leave your teeth with dark or brown spots. A cosmetic dental specialist can help address these oral problems early, reducing how often you whiten your teeth. During checkups, a dentist monitors the effects of whitening on your teeth, helping them suggest appropriate touch-ups to prolong the whitening results.
Eating Healthy
Certain fruits and crunchy vegetables stimulate saliva production, which can wash away bacteria that cause cavities and tooth discoloration. They clean the teeth and gums, resulting in enhanced oral health. Herbal teas and vegetables also help balance the pH levels of the saliva. This minimizes the possibility of your teeth getting stained after you consume acidic beverages. By visiting a dental specialist, you get expert oral health education on the right diet that can limit the need for teeth whitening.
Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene
Brushing your teeth daily can help remove surface stains and bacteria that cause people to whiten their teeth. When you brush your teeth every day, you prevent food remains from accumulating and forming plaque, which discolors the teeth. Dental professionals advise using toothpaste containing fluoride to help increase the strength of your enamel. Fluoride also helps smoothen the surface of the teeth, minimizing its ability to trap substances that cause discoloration. The toothbrush you use should have gentle bristles so as not to damage your enamel due to excessive scrubbing. Once you finish brushing your teeth, use an antibacterial mouthwash and rinse the mouth.
Avoiding Stain-causing Products
Tobacco and colored drinks like soda and caffeine can cause your teeth to become discolored over time. As you smoke, the cigarettes may damage the enamel pores from toxins like tar and nicotine. These substances add discoloration and also pose other oral health problems like periodontal disease and bad breath. Quitting smoking and drinking water often helps stop continued staining, limiting the need for regular teeth whitening.
Visit a Cosmetic Dentist for Teeth Whitening
Professional in-office teeth whitening by a dentist is effective because they use quality, safe substances. A dentist can also use potassium nitrate to whiten your teeth without exposing them to sensitivity and cavities later. If you have these oral issues, the dentist can also provide comprehensive treatments like dental crowns and extractions. Book an appointment with a professional cosmetic dentist if you have discolored teeth.
