How to Reveal Your Brightest Smile

Teeth whitening in downtown San Diego is one of the simplest and most proactive ways to help your smile look its best. The whiter your teeth are, the healthier and more attractive they automatically seem. By erasing years off your smile’s appearance with teeth whitening near you, our dentist in downtown San Diego can provide you with a conservative — yet life-changing — smile experience.

Tips for the Brightest Smile

Professional teeth whitening works multiple times better than any product you’ll ever find online or in stores. Since our concentrated whitening ingredients are administered by a licensed dentist, you’ll have access to a stronger product that whitens your teeth more effectively.

When whitening, opt for an in-house treatment or custom take-home trays. Both provide amazing results that are easy to maintain. With a same-day treatment, your teeth are brighter in about an hour and a half. But if you prefer to whiten on your own time, a set of molded trays will hold the professional gel right where you need it. That way you get even, consistent results every time you wear them.

Before starting your whitening regimen, make sure to reserve an exam at AlignBar. We’ll need to screen your smile for any cavities, gum disease, or tooth-colored restorations in your “smile zone.” Since dental work (like fillings and crowns) don’t whiten when bleaching gel is applied, you’ll want to have a plan in place to update those after you go through professional teeth whitening.

How to Get the Most Out of Whitening

Schedule regular checkups. Six-month dental cleanings ensure that your smile is healthy. But it also means that any tartar buildup or surface stains can be professionally removed on a regular basis. Plan to touch up after every checkup when your teeth are their cleanest!

Sip through a (reusable) straw. Any time you’re able to drink through a straw, it allows liquids to jump right past your top front teeth. A straw can be particularly handy if you’re indulging in a dark liquid.

Drink plenty of water. Water naturally rinses away food, bacteria, and stain from your teeth. It doesn’t replace whitening, but it keeps your smile fresher throughout the day.

Modify your diet. Go for clear liquids when possible, such as white wine instead of red. Or lemon-lime soda instead of dark cola. Small everyday changes can limit new stain buildup between whitening and checkup appointments.

Always work with a dentist. You can’t buy professional whitening gel anywhere but a dentist’s office. So, for stronger and quicker whitening, avoid the temptation to find “cheap” products online that take longer to work (and are less effective, thereby costing you more money in the long run.)

Maintaining Your Results

To keep your smile bright, avoid any stain-causing foods and drinks for the first several days. Anything like coffee, curry, red wine, or tomato sauces — which would stain a white shirt — could result in stain going straight back into your tooth enamel. As you reintroduce them into your diet, plan to rinse with water after you eat or drink, to lift loose stain particles before they soak into the porous surfaces of your smile.

Our patients with take-home trays can touch up their whitening whenever needed. We recommend 3-4 applications after every six-month checkup. But if you drink a lot of tea, coffee, or are prone to heavy stain, you may want to touch up more frequently. Simply store your gel in the refrigerator between uses to preserve the active ingredients. You can always stop by our San Diego dental office to pick up a refill when needed.

Teeth Whitening Near You Are you looking for teeth whitening in downtown San Diego? Contact AlignBar to reserve a dental bleaching consultation with our dentist in downtown San Diego. New patients are always welcome! We’ll answer any questions you may have and help you determine if professional whitening is right for you. Call now to get started.