IF you want to keep smiling over the look of your smile, steer clear of some teeth-whitening mistakes.
An orthodontist who owns a teeth-whitening studio has shared her best tips for keeping your pearly whites polished, including what to avoid.
LIGHTEN UP
Dr. Erin Fraundorf, founder of BOCA Orthodontic and Whitening Studio in Missouri, shared her biggest "don'ts" when it comes to keeping your teeth pearly white.
She especially wants to make sure that you don't waste your time or money when trying to achieve a sparkling smile.
"Don’t choose a style of teeth whitening that you know you won’t do," she told The U.S. Sun.
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"Don’t ever invest in a bunch of take-home whitening gel if you know you won’t use it."
Instead, she believes in saving more in the long run by opting for in-office treatments.
LESS IS MORE
Dr. Fraundorf explained how sometimes less is more — at least when it comes to the teeth brightening process.
"Don’t whiten too much too quickly. Let your teeth have some adjustment time and some time for recovery," she said.
"Bump up the frequency as you go," she continued.
To stay clear of health risks, avoid piling on products.
"If you use too much, it can spill onto your gums and cause minor chemical burns," she said.
"They heal quickly and are often not concerning, but cause significant sensitivity and minor, temporary tissue bleaching."
NOT BUYING IT
She also pointed out trends that are completely pointless.
"Don’t fall for the gimmicks of DIY home whitening kits with LED lights," she warned.
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You'll also want to beware of brushing "too hard" as this can "wear away" gums.
And that means no hard toothbrushes either.
"Always use a soft brush and change it every three months," she advised.
LEAVE IT TO THE PROS
When it comes to your pearly whites, stick to a professional.
"Don’t go to an esthetician, med spa, hair salon, or anyone other than a dental professional for in-office teeth whitening," she said.
For the most radiant results, she also recommends regular appointments with your dentist.
Keeping up with your oral hygiene is the best way to guarantee that it will be safe to whiten your teeth.
She also stressed that the whitening process is safe as long as you follow your doctor's "recommended protocols."
Perhaps her biggest "no-no" is using charcoal toothpaste, which she explained causes "more damage to your teeth and gums than anything else."
"Charcoal toothpastes act by means of mechanical whitening through their use of large abrasive particles," she said.
"These particles, like sandpaper, are used to roughen the surface to remove stains adhered to the outer surface of your teeth."
Dr. Fraundorf previously told The U.S. Sun about her favorite at-home tool for whiter teeth.