Summertime is usually when we’re working on our tan, trying to squeeze into our swimsuit, and sport a fresh haircut. Now that we’re all coming out of our “social distancing” phase, it’s no surprise that we want to dress up and look our best again. One of the easiest ways to put your best face forward is by having a whiter smile.
Schedule Your Dental Cleaning
Chances are, you’re due up for your teeth cleaning (especially if you had to reschedule it during the COVID closures.) Rest assured; we’re doing everything we can to get our patients back on schedule. Waiting longer between cleaning appointments means there’s more plaque, stain, and tartar across your teeth. Since you can only clean one of those off on your own (the plaque) by brushing and flossing, it’s important to see our Mesa dentist for a professional cleaning every six months.
At the end of your cleaning, we’ll polish away superficial stains so that you have a blank slate between now and your next visit!
Drink Plenty of Water
Water is a natural lubricant and cleanser. It’s also completely free of stain particles! So, you can sip on it all day, every day, without it discoloring your teeth.
Side note: if you’re someone who spends a lot of time in the pool, you might start to notice stain buildup from exposure to the chlorinated water and other chemicals. Try to rinse your mouth out after swimming, especially if it’s something you do on a frequent basis.
Brush (and Rinse) Your Teeth More Often
Every time you eat, the dark stain particles from your foods or beverages tend to settle across your teeth. Add to that, your enamel has hundreds of tiny little pores (tubules) on the surface, which are the perfect hiding places for stain.
If you’re eating or drinking things like berries, tea, coffee, soda, sports drinks (or other colored liquids), curry, tomato paste, etc., then you’ll tend to see more stain on your teeth. The key is to get those particles off of your enamel before they have a chance to soak in and stain your smile. The best way is to, of course, brush your teeth regularly. But if you’re having a snack while you’re out and about, or you’re at a restaurant for lunch, that may not be an option. The best alternative is to rinse your mouth thoroughly with water immediately after the meal, before the stains start to settle.
Use a Whitening Toothpaste
Prevent new stain buildup — or at least limit it — with an over-the-counter whitening toothpaste. These types of products don’t work as well for removing darker stains that have been on your teeth for a long time, but they can help with new stain accumulation to keep your smile brighter between your dental checkups.
Check for a toothpaste that has the ADA seal on the packaging. If you see it and the product line states that it’s for whitening, then there are scientific studies to back up what it says it does. A whitening toothpaste without an ADA seal may still work, but it just doesn’t have the data to verify its efficacy for the special ADA label on the packaging.
Take note: whitening toothpastes can sometimes make your teeth feel sensitive. If that’s the case, consider alternating the toothpaste with a sensitivity blend, or only using it a few times a week.
Professionally Whiten Your Teeth
Eastport Dental can help you get your smile white in no time, with our professional teeth bleaching system. Our whitening program helps you effectively erase years of stain and natural tooth discoloration. So even if your teeth are darker without food or beverage stain, you can lighten their color for a brighter appearance.
Depending on how dark your teeth are, Dr. Huynh can help you hand-pick the exact strength of whitening gel that you need. Professional products are more effective than anything you can buy online or in stores, so you’ll see faster and stronger results than generic brands for sale over the counter.
The best part is that professional teeth whitening in Mesa winds up being more affordable than over-the-counter products, because it works better, lasts longer, and is cheaper to maintain!
Our Mesa Dentist Can Help
No matter where you’re at on your journey toward a brighter smile, Eastport Dental can take you the rest of the way. Call our dentist in Mesa to schedule a cleaning or whitening treatment today!
