As a young mother, I was reasonably ignorant when raising my firstborn. My biggest regret is that I didn't help her take better care of her teeth. Like many people, I didn't realise the importance of baby teeth, resulting in long-term dental problems. Recently, my daughter got married and some of my tears were for the beautiful, glistening smile she presented to the cameras. Ever since I realised the dental damage I had caused, I had been saving for my daughter to have cosmetic dentistry. The results are remarkable. During the course of this journey, I have learnt a lot about caring for children's teeth and corrective procedures that can be undertaken when issues arise. I am sure many of you would be interested in the latest knowledge and techniques that are available to prevent and repair dental complications. I'm Margret Devlin - thanks for visiting.
Teeth whitening treatments are one of the most effective ways to brighten up your smile. However, the key to maintaining that healthy smile is knowing what you should and shouldn't do regarding aftercare. Unfortunately, for many people, daily brushing and flossing their teeth after a whitening procedure is the only way to keep them looking bright for longer. While this is a must for your overall dental health, there's more you can do to ensure you have the perfect smile for a long time. Here are a few tips on how you can make this possible.
Watch What You Eat and Drink
Your diet is of vital importance in the first few days or weeks following your teeth whitening procedure. Your teeth will be highly sensitive to any staining products during this time. Therefore, avoid dark fruits and liquids. These include among others, red wine, red sauces, coffee, dark colas and fruits such as strawberries, blueberries and grapes.
If you have to take such drinks, consider using a straw and rinsing your mouth with water afterwards. Doing this will minimise the contact between the drinks and your teeth, preventing discolouration. However, it is recommended that you only do this in the later stages after your treatment. Also, it may be hard to know what foods or drinks to avoid. As a general rule of the thumb, avoid anything that would stain a white shirt.
Avoid or Reduce Smoking
If you are a smoker, you may want to avoid or reduce your frequency of smoking after your teeth whitening treatment. Cigarettes and other tobacco products contain nicotine, which can reverse the effect of the whitening procedure. Therefore, if you cannot avoid smoking, do it moderately. You can also consider electronic cigarettes but make sure you use them moderately too.
Use Whitening Toothpaste
You may want to ditch your normal toothpaste for a few days after your treatment. Your enamel will still be fragile after a tooth whitening procedure and normal toothpaste can affect the treatment. Use whitening toothpaste instead. The bleaching agents in the whitening toothpaste will help keep your teeth whiter.
Don't Wear Lipstick in The First Few Days After the Treatment
Lipstick contains pigments that can stain or discolour your teeth. Therefore, avoid lipstick immediately after your teeth whitening treatment. However, if you must wear it, consider smudge-proof products. They will ensure the lipstick doesn't get to your teeth.
Talk to your dentist for more suggestions.
Share28 August 2018
