Teeth-whitening procedures are a great place to start for achieving a bright and beautiful smile. Without proper maintenance, however, that initial shine you get at the dentist’s office may not last very long. Once you’ve had a teeth whitening procedure, try to avoid the substances that caused discoloration in the first place. Coffee, red wine and tea are the most common staining agents and should be avoided if possible. Substitute white wine for red, or limit yourself to one cup of coffee per day. However, if you simply can’t resist the allure of the office coffee machine, try brushing your teeth or rinsing your mouth immediately after each cup. At-home teeth whitening procedures can be effective at fighting discoloration as well. Some of the best products include whitening strips and trays with high concentrations of peroxide and long application times. Mouthwashes can be useful for rinsing but shouldn’t be relied upon. While whitening products may work wonders, traditional oral hygiene is still the cornerstone of any healthy smile. Brushing two times a day and flossing regularly are some of the easiest but surprisingly least practiced ways to maintain bright teeth. For more tips on keeping teeth white or to schedule a teeth-whitening appointment, contact Greenspoint Dental today.