Can I Use Mouthwash after Teeth Whitening?
Having whiter teeth has almost become an obsession in the present society. New products and gadgets are popping up frequently, promising to deliver brighter and whiter teeth. Getting your teeth whitened professionally despite the extra costs is worth it because the results last longer than DIY options.
After getting your teeth whitened, you must protect your investment by avoiding certain foods, beverages, and products that can stain your teeth in the days and weeks after your treatment.
If you want to retain the results of professional teeth whitening, here are some suggestions that you must follow after your teeth whitening process.
Refrain from Drinking Colored Beverages
Following teeth whitening treatments, you must avoid pigmented beverages such as coffee, tea, red wine, beer, fruit juices, and sodas. These beverages tend to stain your teeth because of their vibrant and artificial colors. If you find it challenging to break your habit of having your morning coffee or a glass of wine in the evening, consider having the beverages with a straw. Your teeth remain out of contact when you use a straw for drinking these beverages, a straw helping your smile remains whiter longer.
Staining Foods Are Also Better Avoided
After getting your teeth whitened, you help yourself by staying away from an extensive range of foods that can stain your teeth, similar to beverages. Foods with acids, grease, or colors can damage tooth enamel and contribute to staining. The foods you must avoid after teeth whitening are dark-colored sauces such as soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, red sauce, and colorful spices. You must also avoid red meat, citrus, and other acidic fruits like lemons, oranges, mangoes, kiwi, plums, and highly pigmented berries like blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries.
Colorful vegetables such as tomatoes, spinach, carrots, milk, and dark chocolate can also stain your teeth like artificially colored candy. You must avoid any foods that can stain your shirt because they will also stain your teeth. Your whitened teeth remain brighter longer when you avoid these foods.
Cut out the Tobacco
Besides being harmful to oral health, using tobacco products such as smoking or chewing tobacco is the fastest to stain your teeth. If you smoke or chew tobacco, you will likely find you must constantly touch up your teeth to maintain your brighter smile. It is in stark contrast to people who don’t smoke or chew tobacco. Dentists recommend you quit tobacco altogether to retain the color of your teeth pearly white.
Stay Away from Colored Dental Hygiene Products
Dental hygiene products also contain staining colors that can dull the color of your teeth. The products available in red, orange, blue, and purple colors help reduce the bacteria in your mouth. Unfortunately, they also help re-stain your teeth faster than products that are colorless or light.
You might experience sensitivity after teeth whitening, which is a common occurrence. You can alleviate the problem by discussing desensitizing toothpaste and mouthwash specifically created for sensitive teeth with your dentist. Please do not assume you might develop complications because of the accumulation of dental plaque on your teeth but concentrate on brushing correctly to ensure you remove any plaque using excellent dental hygiene practices.
Mouthwash helps prevent gingivitis and periodontal disease besides cavities if used correctly when maintaining everyday dental hygiene practices. However, most mouthwash brands containing a high volume of alcohol can damage your teeth if you try using them after whitening your teeth. Therefore it is essential that you discuss this specific issue with your dentist, who might recommend a mouthwash for sensitive teeth immediately after teeth whitening procedures.
After getting your teeth whitened by spending considerably, you want the results to remain with you for as long as possible. Therefore you must consider having a white diet including colorless foods for approximately two weeks following your whitening treatment. Some foods include white rice, yogurt, uncolored pasta, chicken, tofu, oatmeal, and white fish. You can also use egg whites, potatoes, cashew nuts, almonds, vanilla ice cream, white chocolate, bananas, et cetera.
For beverages, you can have still or unflavored sparkling water, coconut water and milk, white wine, and clear alcohol.
Do not try to negate the results of the whitening treatment within a short time because tricks to retain the appearance of your smile are undoubtedly available. Instead, use the suggestions mentioned herein to ensure you receive a return on investment from the whitening procedure.
Newton Dental Group provides this therapy in Surrey if you desire teeth whitening treatments and intend to benefit fully from the procedure. You also receive sufficient instructions on maintaining teeth whitening results by avoiding certain foods and beverages besides dental hygiene products.