Having your teeth professionally whitened is a great experience that can do a lot to boost your ego. However, it doesn't take long for stains and discoloration to begin creeping back in between the teeth. If you're tired of having your whitened teeth marred by a dark or yellowish color appearing between your teeth, follow these steps to remove it and prevent it from happening in the future, too.
Why the Space Between Your Teeth Changes Colors
When you have your teeth professionally whitened, the surface of your teeth is left a gleaming, bright white. The flat surfaces of your teeth are pretty easy to maintain with regular tooth brushing, since brushing your teeth does a good job of removing plaque, bacteria, and biofilm. However, brushing your teeth doesn't do a very good job of reaching the bacteria that builds up between your teeth. Over time, this bacteria can create new plaque, resulting in a yellow or dark appearance between your white teeth.
Gingival Stimulator
If you already have this problem, floss may not be enough to fix it. Thankfully, a gingival stimulator can help. Gingival stimulators are professional dental tools that are used to clean along and under gums, as well as between teeth. Since they're made out of a flexible rubber, they're able to remove more plaque from between your teeth than a toothbrush can.
Once you have a gingival stimulator, run it carefully between each of your teeth to remove the plaque. Be gentle, and go slowly to avoid hitting your gums. Take care to run the stimulator over the edge of the gum line, too, to prevent yellow or dark lines from appearing on the tops or bottoms of your teeth.
Flossing
Once your plaque has been removed, you should begin flossing regularly in order to keep it from coming back. Simply flossing everyday can help to slow the development of plaque and tartar, which will prolong the appearance of your whitened teeth. If you don't like floss, a water flosser is also effective at removing plaque and bacteria from between your teeth and along the gum line.
If you don't take steps to maintain your smile following whitening your teeth, your results may not last as long as you'd like. Talk to your dentist to learn what other steps you can perform to keep your smile white for as long as possible following your next teeth whitening session.
Share20 May 2017
If you are someone who hesitates to open your mouth when you smile because you are embarrassed about your teeth, you should know that there are a number of cosmetic techniques that can give you a beautiful smile you will be proud to show to the world. As a cosmetic dentist, I have seen many clients transform their lives simply by fixing their smiles. This blog is meant to encourage people to find out about the possibilities in cosmetic dentistry so they can feel good about their smiles. A beautiful, confident smile really can change your life. I would love to show you how.
