Dream of a White Christmas Smile This Holiday Season

Get ready to smile for the paparazzi!

If your family is like most, more photos are snapped around the holidays than any other time of year.

Not only are the memories created during the holidays ones every family wants to capture but the lighting is beautiful with Christmas tree sparkles or Menorah candles and soft light reflected off the snow.

Make sure you look your best for this holiday season’s photo ops with a bright white smile!

Work With Your Dentist

There are plenty of at home whitening kits, strips, and special whitening toothpastes available that will give you some results if your teeth aren’t too stained but for best results, come in to the dentist for a consultation to see which whitening protocol will work best for you.

Those at home kits are often a milder form of what is available at the dentist. Some of them are gimmicks, for example, just shining a blue light on your teeth after applying a whitening gel won’t whiten them. Others are useful, using a hydrogen peroxide solution to slowly bleach the outer layers of teeth but they don’t last if you don’t treat your teeth properly.

Your dentist can insure the whitening procedures used will do the least amount of damage to your teeth and give you the longest lasting results. Starting a whitening regimen at the beginning of December will ensure your smile is dazzling by Christmas.  Try not to put off starting the whitening of your teeth. It may take a few sessions and a few weeks for you to see the full results you want.

Using a whitening toothpaste will help to maintain a bright smile but may not get you very far on its own. There are also mouthwashes available with whitening agents. Pay close attention to your mouth when using these products. If your gums are getting sensitive, discontinue use for a while to let your mouth heal. The agents used to whiten teeth can be abrasive to sensitive gum tissue.

Having a white healthy smile is important but don’t overdo it with whitening products. Advice from your dentist is imperative for getting the results you want without damaging tooth enamel or gum tissue.

Prevention Is Key

Just like any kind of prevention, avoiding the causes of stained teeth is your best bet at keeping a bright smile. Coffee, tea, red juices, and some fruits all have the potential to stain tooth enamel. While avoiding these foods and drinks completely means your teeth are never exposed to them, it also means you don’t get the caffeine you want or the health benefits of eating berries you need.

You can still enjoy these foods and drinks as long as you rinse your mouth with water after eating or drinking potentially staining sustenance and, as always, brush and floss your teeth regularly.

Now is the perfect time to make an appointment and get a snowy white smile you’ll be confident flashing at holiday parties! 

Image: Emilian Tiberiu Toba

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