I've tried a bunch of teeth whitening stuff over the years—strips, gels, even that charcoal toothpaste (which was kinda messy tbh). One thing I noticed is that if you cut back on coffee and dark sodas, the results stick around way longer. I mean, I love my coffee, so it's tough, but drinking through a straw helps a bit. Curious if anyone else has little tricks or habits that help keep their teeth white after treatments?
Totally agree about the coffee and soda thing—it's a tough habit to break, but it really does make a difference. Another trick I've found helpful is rinsing with water right after having something staining, like berries or red wine. It doesn't completely prevent stains, but it definitely helps minimize them. Also, regular flossing seems to help keep stains from building up between teeth... at least that's been my experience.
Yeah, rinsing with water right after definitely helps—I do that too, especially with tea (which stains worse than coffee for me). Another thing I've noticed: using a straw when drinking iced coffee or soda seems to limit staining quite a bit... though it feels kinda silly sometimes.
Haha, totally get the straw thing... I've tried it myself, but always end up feeling like I'm sipping a fancy cocktail instead of my morning iced coffee. But hey, whatever works, right? Also, good call on rinsing after tea—I swear that stuff stains faster than anything else. I've found brushing gently with baking soda once in a while helps too, though it tastes kinda weird at first... worth it for a brighter smile though.
I've also noticed that maintaining regular dental cleanings really helps prolong whitening results. Cutting down on staining beverages is definitely beneficial, but pairing it with professional cleanings every six months has made a noticeable difference for me. Worth considering if you haven't already tried it.
