How Long Should You Expect the Benefits of Professional Teeth Whitening to Last?
Every year, millions of Americans turn to teeth whitening treatments to help their smiles look their best. The popularity of whitening treatments isn't really a surprise. Your smile can have a big effect on how you look, and professional teeth whitening is a great way to enhance your smile — and your confidence — in just one office visit.
If you’ve tried over-the-counter bleaching products, you might have been disappointed by how quickly your results faded. Another benefit of professional whitening is that your results don’t just look a lot better than they do with drugstore kits — they last a long time, too.
When men and women in Novi, Michigan, want their smiles to look their best, they turn to Abir Faraj, DDS, and the team at Novi Family Dentistry. Dr. Faraj offers advanced whitening techniques and solutions for results that are beautiful and long-lasting.
The professional difference
Professional teeth whitening treatments include whitening agents that only dentists can provide. These agents are far more effective at lifting deep stains and discoloration, yet they’re still safe for your teeth.
Furthermore, Dr. Faraj uses state-of-the-art teeth whitening techniques that can improve your smile by up to 10 shades in just a single, one-hour visit. That means you can have a whitening treatment in the morning and be ready to face the public with a beautiful, youthful-looking smile that evening.
Because they penetrate more deeply and remove more stains and discolorations than over-the-counter products, the results of professional whitening treatments last longer, too. In most cases, you can expect your results to last a year or more before you need to come in for a touch-up. That’s a huge return on a one-hour investment of your time.
Six tips to maintain your beautiful smile
While professional whitening offers long-lasting results, there are some additional steps you can take to keep your teeth looking great even longer.
1. Limit foods that stain
Many foods that cause stains — including foods with deep pigments — offer important health benefits, so you don’t want to eliminate them. But, you can limit how much you indulge in some foods or drinks that are known to stain, such as coffee, red wine, and dark spices.
2. Use a straw
Although drinking hot coffee and wine through a straw isn’t everyone’s idea of a good time, straws do limit tooth exposure to staining beverages. You might find the “straw technique” works best with cold beverages, such as iced coffee and tea.
3. Rinse afterward
Rinsing your mouth right after indulging in a food or beverage known to stain teeth can also help. Rinsing after eating can also help freshen your breath and rid your mouth of food particles that can feed bacteria. (If you prefer to brush after meals, wait about a half hour to avoid damaging your tooth enamel, which can temporarily soften after eating.)
4. Practice good oral hygiene
Brush twice a day and floss at least once to get rid of the sticky plaque film that can make teeth look dull and dingy. Opt for whitening toothpastes and rinses for added benefits.
5. Don’t skip office visits
Regular checkups don’t just keep your teeth and gums healthy. They’re also important for getting rid of plaque and tartar, which can cause decay, gum disease, and make your teeth look dingy. Furthermore, professional cleanings can also help remove superficial stains.
6. Use a take-home kit
In addition to our professional in-office whitening treatments, Dr. Faraj offers take-home whitening kits, which can help you maintain your bright smile between visits. Some people opt for take-home kits instead of in-office treatments. Dr. Faraj can help you decide which option is a better choice for your goals.
Give yourself the gift of confidence
This holiday season, give yourself a dazzling smile with a professional whitening treatment. To schedule your treatment, call 248-418-4542 or book an appointment online with Novi Family Dentistry today.