I totally relate to the lighting thing—it messes with my head too. One minute I think my bonding looks perfect, the next I’m convinced it’s yellowing. I guess it’s just one of those things you get hyper-aware of once you know it can stain more easily. I’m still new to this, but my dentist mentioned that even with good habits, some color change is normal over time. It’s not always as dramatic as we think though.
I like your idea of rinsing after coffee. I’ve started doing that too, and it feels like a small win. Honestly, I still stress about it sometimes, but it helps knowing that even if there’s a bit of staining, it can usually be polished off at cleanings. It’s easy to spiral and overthink, but your point about perception vs. reality makes sense. Sometimes I have to remind myself that most people aren’t staring at my teeth as closely as I am.
Hang in there—it sounds like you’re already doing all the right things.
Yeah, lighting totally throws me off too. Sometimes I catch myself obsessing in the car mirror and then realize it’s just the sun making things look weird. You’re right, most people aren’t inspecting your teeth that closely—honestly, half the time my friends can’t even tell I had bonding done. Rinsing after coffee is a solid habit, but try not to stress too much about minor color shifts. A little polish at your next cleaning usually does the trick. You’re doing fine.