When you are concerned about the appearance of your teeth, you might visit a cosmetic dentist for a teeth-whitening procedure that requires using a hydrogen peroxide solution and cool laser light. Having your teeth whitened professionally is essential to remove deep stains that you have had for several years. However, you can develop new stains on your teeth if you aren’t careful. Many patients require a new whitening procedure in six months to remove additional stains. Here are a few ways to prevent new stains from developing on your teeth.

1: Change What You Eat and Drink

If you drink a lot of red wine or grape juice, then your teeth will become discolored rapidly. When you want to have an alcoholic beverage, choose one that doesn’t have a dark color. Grape juice is delicious and healthy to drink, but you can find white grape juice at a local supermarket. Soft drinks can also stain your teeth, but you can use a straw to drink these beverages so that the liquid reaches the inside of your mouth without washing over your front teeth. Many foods can also stain your teeth, including blueberries or tomatoes. If you consume these foods, then make sure to brush and floss your teeth right away to prevent ugly stains.

2: Give Up Tobacco

When you smoke cigarettes or chew tobacco, the nicotine and other chemicals will stain your teeth. Stop chewing tobacco by switching to sugarless gum, and you can vape instead of smoking cigarettes. Within a few months, you may no longer crave any type of tobacco, and you won’t develop brown stains on your teeth that create an unattractive smile.

3: Upgrade Your Daily Oral Hygiene

Dentists recommend brushing your teeth in the morning and at night, but if you brush more often, then your teeth will remain whiter. In addition, carry dental floss with you everywhere so that you can remove food debris before it discolors your teeth. You can also rinse out your mouth with water several times a day, or you can use a specialized store-bought whitening mouthwash. Make sure to replace your toothbrush at least four times a year to have one that is more sanitary. To remove additional food and beverage debris from your mouth, buy an oral irrigator that emits highly pressurized water to cleanse your teeth.