Okemos, Lansing, East Lansing MI
Your smile can say a lot about you without you needing to utter a word. However, when your smile is dingy and discolored, it may send out the wrong signal to others. Whitening your teeth is a perfect method for temporarily brightening your smile. But unfortunately, even professional whitening treatments fail to yield permanent results. Fortunately, our Okemos cosmetic dentist at Tenaglia Smiles shares on the blog today the best way to make your teeth whitening last longer to get a better return on your investment and have a brighter smile longer.
What causes tooth stains?
Your tooth enamel is sensitive to specific colors in daily foods and beverages. For example, coffee, tea, red wine, soda, berries, and foods with heavy dyes like candy or juice can cause surface stains on your teeth. Additionally, those who use tobacco products or smoke cigarettes have an increased risk for surface stains and discoloration. Furthermore, aging and specific medications could cause extrinsic or intrinsic stains, which can be unsightly. According to our East Lansing cosmetic dentist, moderately consuming the above substances is the best method to protect your teeth’ brightness and color.
What teeth whitening treatments are available?
At Tenaglia Smiles, we offer our patients two teeth whitening methods for convenience, in-office and on the go. Depending on your whitening needs and oral health condition, Dr. Tenaglia can recommend the best procedure to give you quality results. Below are the teeth whitening systems we offer.
- In-Office – Zoom! Whitening System
Zoom! is a technologically advanced whitening treatment that’s safe, fast, and effective. Our skilled Lansing cosmetic dentist can prep and whiten your smile between five to thirteen shades in one office visit that lasts for approximately an hour and a half.
- On the Go – GLO®
Guided Light Optics® or GLO® is a teeth whitening system that uses blue LED light, warming heat acceleration, and a specialized whitening gel to provide accelerated whitening results in the comfort of your home or while traveling.
What are the best ways to maintain my results?
Whether you choose to brighten your smile in our Okemos dental office or at home, some tricks can help you longer maintain your new smile.
- Change Your Diet – Since some foods you consume have dark pigments that can stain teeth, try limiting or avoiding them. You can find a suitable substitute that won’t damage your pearly whites in many cases.
- Use a Straw – Carbonated beverages often have dyes or pigments added for color that can cling to your teeth and cause a dingy appearance. Drinking through a straw can help limit your smile’s exposure to tooth-staining substances.
- Rinse if You Can’t Brush – It may not be feasible to visit the restroom and brush your teeth immediately after eating. Therefore, rinse your mouth with plain water to remove most food and beverage remnants to limit teeth staining.
- Stop Smoking – Smoking is a habit that can drastically impact your smile and overall health. It can cause tooth discoloration from the tar in cigarettes, but it could also result in oral cancer.
- Visit Your Dentist Regularly – According to the American Dental Association (ADA), you should visit your dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning. Our friendly Okemos dentist can remove surface stains that build up and cause a dingy smile.
Teeth Whitening in Okemos, Lansing, and East Lansing, MI
A brighter smile can help increase your self-confidence and self-esteem. Additionally, it can make it easier to navigate social situations and could improve your odds of landing the perfect job or mate. If you have a discolored smile and are ready to brighten it, our teeth whitening dentist in Lansing, Dr. Christine Tenaglia, can help you smile with confidence again. Please call Tenaglia Smiles at (517) 347-6733 to schedule an appointment or contact us online.