Cosmetic Dentistry Aftercare – Los Angeles, CA
Making Your Brilliant, Beautiful Smile Last
Here at Westside Dental Associates, we are proud of the work we do every day in enhancing patients’ smiles. We can help you feel more confident through our cosmetic dentistry services ranging from simple teeth whitening treatments to a complete smile makeover. The results from your cosmetic dentistry procedure could stick around for years at a time. Although the results of many of these treatments will not last forever, you can follow certain guidelines for cosmetic dentistry aftercare in Los Angeles to prolong the time that you get to enjoy your new, beautiful smile.
Avoid Certain Foods and Drinks
Whether you whiten your teeth or get cosmetic bonding or veneers, you’ll be able to retain your smile’s whiteness longer if you steer clear of or at least limit your consumption of deeply pigmented foods and drinks, such as coffee, chocolate, tomato sauce, and more. This is particularly important during a brief period following both in-office and at-home teeth whitening treatments. Instead, you can choose to eat colorless foods, like cauliflower, mashed potatoes, rice, and white cheese.
If you have the habit of chewing on hard things, including ice, popcorn kernels, or pencils, try to stop. Even though tooth enamel and veneers are both very durable, they are not indestructible and can chip, crack, or break when consistently put under this kind of pressure.
Follow Treatment and Post-Treatment Instructions
For Invisalign and at-home teeth whitening to be effective, you need to follow the specific instructions that we give you. In the case of correcting misalignment for your teeth with Invisalign, you even need to continue wearing your retaining appliance at night long after treatment ends to make sure that your teeth don’t revert to their previous positions. Regardless of the procedure, if we give you aftercare information, be sure that you follow it for optimal results.
Stop Tobacco Use
Smoking or chewing tobacco can leave noticeable stains on your teeth and even on veneers, which are more stain-resistant than tooth enamel. One of the best things you can do to keep your smile looking radiant after cosmetic treatment is to quit these unhealthy habits.
Practice Daily Oral Care
Even if your new smile was achieved in one treatment, maintaining it requires daily effort. Make sure that you brush and floss your teeth daily to reduce staining and plaque buildup. You can also strengthen your teeth by using products with fluoride in them, including toothpaste and mouthwash.
Visit Us for Dental Checkups and Cleanings
When you come in for your biannual dental checkup and teeth cleaning appointment at Westside Dental Associates, we’ll not only give your teeth a professional polishing and remove surface stains, but we’ll also check on your smile’s progress. Through these regular visits, we can catch any cosmetic regression early on and get you the treatment you need to easily regain the desired results.
If you do all these things, there’s no reason why your smile can’t continue to look pristine for many years to come.
Do you have more questions about how to care for your smile after cosmetic dental care? Reach out to our team at Westside Dental Associates! We’ll be happy to share other tips for aftercare and maintaining the results that you love.