04 Mar How to Make Your Whitening Treatment Last
You don’t have to be missing your two front teeth to be embarrassed about your smile. Yellow teeth are a turn-off for both professional and personal settings. Even if you brush daily, you still might not have the pearly whites you desire. Professional whitening is the solution, but unfortunately, it’s not a permanent one. Unless you take care to avoid stains in the future, your whitening results won’t last as long as they should.
What Causes Stained Teeth?
Extrinsic Staining
These types of tooth stains are surface stains. They develop on the outer surface. Daily consumption of beverages like coffee, black tea, red wine, soda, and energy drinks will make your teeth start to look yellow.
Nicotine is also notorious for staining teeth. Smoking, vaping, or chewing tobacco will lead to significant yellow and brown stains over time.
Intrinsic Staining
These stains happen within the tooth structure itself. When the enamel gets too thin, the yellowish dentin inside your tooth starts to show through.
While thinning enamel is a standard part of the aging process, it shows how important it is to maintain good oral care habits. Using a hydroxyapatite toothpaste every day can help you rebuild your tooth enamel naturally.
What to Avoid After a Whitening Treatment
Dark Beverages and Artificial Colors
- Coffee
- Black tea
- Cola
- Red wine
- Energy drinks
If you do prefer these types of drinks, please use a straw to minimize direct contact with your teeth.
Acidic Foods
- Citrus fruits
- Tomato sauce
- Vinegar-based dressings
Please wait at least half an hour to brush your teeth after eating acidic foods. Because acidic foods temporarily weaken your tooth enamel, if you brush too soon, it can cause further damage and leave your teeth vulnerable to stains.
Smoking and Vaping
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that 3 out of 10 adults who smoke will lose all their teeth. This alarming statistic reveals how nicotine use increases the risk of severe oral health problems.
Tips to Make Your Whitening Treatment Last
You’ll need to be extra careful during the first 48 hours following your whitening treatment. Avoiding the things listed above and eating a “white diet” can make your results last significantly longer. Stick to light-colored foods like chicken, white fish, rice, bananas, oatmeal, potatoes, and cauliflower.
You can also make your whitening treatment last longer by following these tips:
- Brush with an electric toothbrush and a whitening toothpaste twice daily.
- Floss every day to remove surface plaque and prevent stains between your teeth.
- Rinse your mouth with water after eating and drinking, especially if you had any foods or beverages that tend to stain.
- Drink your morning coffee through a straw, and make sure to rinse your mouth afterward.
- Schedule touch-up treatments every six months with our Prescott dental team to maintain your results. Our dental hygienists can also provide personalized advice on how to care for your teeth after whitening.
Keep Your Smile Bright with Prescott Dentistry
Making your whitening treatment last doesn’t have to be difficult. Avoid staining foods and drinks, don’t smoke or vape, use a whitening toothpaste, and follow up with your dentist every six months for cleanings.
At Prescott Dentistry in Arizona, we are dedicated to helping you get the beautiful smile you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a consultation for professional teeth whitening or to schedule your next cleaning.
Photo by Shedrack Salami on Unsplash used with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 2/14/26.