If your pearly whites are looking a little less white than you would like, we can help get your bright smile back with professional teeth whitening. Your dentist, Dr. Herman Salzberg of Palatine, IL, provides general, family, and cosmetic dentistry services, including teeth whitening—read on to learn more.

What you Need to Know About Teeth Whitening

Although you can use whitening products at home, such as whitening toothpaste or home bleaching kits, they are not as effective as professional whitening. When it’s performed by a dental expert, teeth whitening can last up to five years. One of the differences is that home-whitening kits contain 3%-5% of the bleaching agent, whereas cosmetic dentistry treatment uses a gel or whitening solution that contains 15% to 43% of the whitening product.

Things to Avoid to Keep Your Teeth Stain-Free

If you’ve whitened your teeth and you don’t want them to stain over time, you may wish to avoid the following foods:

Pasta Sauce: Because of their color and acidity, tomatoes in pasta sauce can sometimes lead to teeth staining. If you do want to eat pasta, have an appetizer containing dark green vegetables beforehand. This will create a protective coating on your teeth and prevent staining.

Curry: If you’re a lover of Indian food, you may notice it causes your teeth to take on a yellow hue over time. When you do eat curry, eat fresh fruit to prevent staining.

Balsamic Vinegar: Although this is delicious and healthy salad dressing, it can sometimes cause browning of the teeth. Just be sure to add crunchy lettuce or celery to your salad to help prevent the balsamic from coating your teeth.

Berries: Blackberries, blueberries, cranberries can all stain the teeth, but they’re delicious and packed with beneficial antioxidants. When you eat them, drink plenty of water after to rinse your teeth.

Beverages: Coffee, tea, and wine will all cause stains because of their acidic nature. Sports drinks may also cause staining and damage tooth enamel. Limit your intake of these drinks to keep your teeth looking healthy.

Using these tips and knowing what to avoid will help you keep your gums healthy and your teeth free from stains. Then you will always have a bright, confident smile.

Give our Palatine Dental Practice a Call

If you’re looking for an expert in cosmetic dentistry, call Dr. Salzberg's Palatine office at 847-359-6766 to book an appointment.