Month: December 2017

It’s a beautiful day when you get your teeth whitened multiple shades, making them glisten in the sun. Afterwards, you walk towards the restaurant next door to grab a light lunch. As the server walks up to your table, she asks what beverage you’d like. You catch yourself before saying the phrase “hot tea please.”

Your dentist in Framingham will remind you of how to take care of your recent investment. However, in case you need a handy reminder, they’ve provided information on how to protect your new white teeth.

How to Take Care of Whitened Teeth

It’s much easier to manage your newly whitened smile than it is to whiten it in the first place, so you’ll want to take the necessary steps to care for your investment. Start by buying a toothpaste specifically designed to whiten teeth. This will remove stains after eating foods you eat and prevent your teeth from yellowing further. If you do consume foods that cause staining, try to brush and/or rinse this food out of your mouth before it has a chance to stain. Be sure to avoid colored toothpastes as well.

You’ll want to try using a straw to drink beverages that stain, as this will reduce your teeth’s exposure to them. The surface of your teeth is like cloth; it actually contains many holes that gives stains room to settle. If you wear lipstick, a cool trick to make your teeth look whiter is to apply a bright shade of lipstick that is blue or pink-based. Avoid orange or brown shades which only complement the yellow in your teeth.

Avoid These Foods at All Costs

There are many foods you should try to avoid if you’re trying to retain your whitened smile. Since your dentist might not go over every single

At Clear Advantage Orthodontics, we encourage our patients to practice good oral hygiene between office visits. Good oral hygiene includes flossing, cleaning between the teeth to remove the food and debris that get lodged in areas hard to reach with a toothbrush. When food is left stuck between teeth, it provides a breeding ground for bacteria, which can cause periodontal disease!

Help with Flossing

If you have questions about your flossing technique or what type of floss is best for your teeth, contact our office. The staff will be more than happy to assist you in perfecting your home hygiene regimen. In most cases, you can choose between interdental cleaning picks or flexible floss strands to perform your daily flossing routine.

Should You Floss Before or After Brushing?

According to recent clinical findings, you can floss either before or after brushing, according to your own preference. By flossing first, you can brush away dislodged food debris afterward. On the other hand, brushing first allows you to loosen plaque between the teeth, making it easier to floss more effectively.

Whichever you choose, the most important goal is to floss thoroughly. That means using a fresh strand of dental floss each day, and carefully pulling it back and forth between all of the teeth. Do not skip flossing because your teeth look or feel clean.

When to Floss

Unlike brushing, you need only floss between your teeth once per day. Although you may choose to do it in the morning or afternoon, many prefer to floss at night to prevent food and debris from remaining in the crevices of the teeth overnight. This could prevent the build-up of plaque too, which is a cause of tooth decay.