Whitening treatments are fairly common and highly sought-after by individuals who are longing for a picture-perfect smile. Everyone is always looking for the secret to jaw-dropping white teeth whether it’s a quick retouch on an editing app before posting a photo online or at-home teeth whitening kits a la Khloe Kardashian style — a brightening smile is deeply desired by all. While at-home kits are convenient, there’s nothing like an in-office whitening treatment to truly transform your smile. But getting the treatment is only step one — the real work is in maintaining the picture-perfect smile. So, we’ve enlisted the help of Dr. Katherine Roman who answers the top three frequently asked questions about one of the most requested treatments.

How often should a patient whiten their teeth?

There isn’t just one answer to this since it depends on the person. If you’ve gotten a whitening treatment done and you haven’t taken the proper measurements of upkeeping the treatment, your teeth will go back to the yellow tones you were trying to get rid of in the first place.

What measurements should one take in maintaining a whitening treatment?

Patients need to be aware that it’s important to stay away from red wine, ketchup, mustard and anything that involves dark pigmented food, drinks and condiments, they need to stay away from.

Which, if any, at-home whitening products would you recommended?

People often ask me what toothpaste they should use or other at-home products but it’s not about the product, per se, it’s more about how you are taking care of your teeth. You need to brush properly, floss properly and make sure you are upkeeping with dental cleanings.