How to make teeth whitening last longer during the holiday season?

The holiday season is full of parties, family gatherings, and photos. You want your smile to look its brightest for all the festivities. But teeth whitening results often start fading after just a couple of weeks. Follow these tips to extend the longevity of your whitened smile this holiday season.

Get Professionally Whitened Teeth

Over-the-counter whitening strips or gels only provide temporary, subtle brightening. In-office procedures performed by your dentist lead to dramatically whiter teeth that persist much longer.

Professional options like ZOOM! Teeth Whitening rapidly removes deep stains for results lasting six months or more with proper care. This gets you through the long holiday season with a vibrant smile.

Visit your dentist near you soon to get your teeth professionally whitened. The earlier you whiten before the holidays, the longer your dazzling results will last. Teeth whitening in Columbia, MD, is available from providers like Model Dental Clinic.

Avoid Stain-Causing Foods and Drinks

Once your teeth are whitened, be meticulous about your diet. Sipping dark sodas, coffee, red wine, and other staining substances will quickly dull your bright smile. Limit consumption of staining foods and beverages for the duration of the holidays.

When you indulge in coffee, tea, berries, tomato sauce, soy sauce, or curry, promptly rinse your mouth with water afterward. This prevents pigments from seeping into porous enamel.

Stay Hydrated

Keep your mouth moist by drinking lots of water daily. Saliva helps protect newly whitened teeth, so staying hydrated preserves your results.

Carry a water bottle and sip frequently throughout the day. Drink an extra glass after consuming any food or drinks that could stain. Remember to swish water around your mouth for 30 seconds before swallowing.

Use Whitening or Enamel-Safe Toothpaste

Choose a specialty whitening toothpaste or an enamel-safe formula without staining colors or abrasives. Brush twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush to avoid scrubbing away your brightened enamel.

Toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth, such as those containing potassium nitrate, also helps relieve sensitivity that may occur shortly after whitening treatments.

Avoid Smoking and Tobacco

Any tobacco use will yellow your pearly whites again in record time. Cease all smoking and chewing tobacco at least 48 hours before your whitening appointment. Then, continue avoiding tobacco for the remainder of the holiday season to keep your teeth luminous.

Wear a Whitening Retainer or Custom Tray

Your dentist may provide a retainer or custom tray to hold the whitening gel against your teeth overnight or for a few hours daily. Use this retainer as directed to touch up and maintain color between professional whitening sessions.

Consistently wearing your whitening retainer supports the longevity of your professional whitening treatment. At-home teeth whitening kits can also help prolong your bright smile.

Watch What You Drink

If you aren’t careful, beverages like coffee, soda, red wine, and tea can quickly stain your gleaming smile. Avoid coloring drinks completely after whitening, or rinse your mouth with water after consuming them.

And remember cocktails! Mixed drinks, especially those with fruit juices, can discolor your smile. Consider lighter-colored options like white wine, light beer, clear liquor with soda water, or champagne.

Use Whitening Toothpaste

Use a specialty whitening toothpaste for a few weeks after your professional treatment. Whitening toothpastes are more abrasive to lift stains away from enamel. However, they may need to be more moderate to use long-term.

Switch back to a standard or enamel-safe toothpaste after 1-2 months. But initially, the whitening formulas help prolong your professionally whitened color.

Touch Up with At-Home Whitening

Once you’re a couple months post-treatment, use at-home whitening kits or strips to maintain your holiday smile. These will refresh the whitening effects in between periodic professional sessions.

Look for custom trays or strips that allow you to focus on the front 8-10 teeth only. Targeting the visible front teeth cuts down on application time. Daily or weekly touch-ups preserve your gorgeous smile for holiday photos and celebrations.

With deliberate care, your holiday smile makeover can last for months. Avoid teeth-staining habits and follow your dentist’s advice. Schedule an appointment with your dentist near you soon to brighten up for the holidays.