When using teeth whitening products or having professional teeth whitening in a dental office, a few tips can go a long way towards making it an easier experience. Follow these teeth whitening tips to make the most of your teeth whitening efforts.
Whitening Toothpaste
When selecting a whitening toothpaste, it is important to keep a few things in mind. Most whitening toothpaste contains an abrasive particle in the ingredients that helps to remove surface stains from the teeth. This size and hardness of the abrasive can vary quite a lot between different whitening toothpaste. The larger and harder the abrasive particle, there is an increased chance of damage to the tooth’s enamel. Using toothpaste with hard abrasives will erode or scrub away the enamel over time.
In-Office Whitening
When having professional teeth whitening done in the dental office, it is important to take a few important steps. For best results, a dental cleaning or dental hygiene appointment is recommended before the whitening procedure. The dental cleaning will remove any plaque and tartar build-up, allowing the whitening gel to make maximum contact with the teeth. A dental exam should also be performed to ensure that there is no current decay or damage to teeth. The whitening gels can irritate areas of dental decay, cracked or damaged teeth.
A dental exam should also be performed to ensure that there is no current decay or damage to teeth. The whitening gels can irritate areas of dental decay, cracked or damaged teeth.
Some patients may experience tooth sensitivity once the whitening procedure is finished. Using toothpaste for sensitivity at least two weeks before your whitening appointment can significantly reduce any associated sensitivity. Using the toothpaste for at least two weeks consecutively is important. Do not use any other type of toothpaste with the sensitivity toothpaste as it may counteract the benefits of the sensitivity toothpaste.
Avoid consuming foods that are acidic in nature because they can cause sensitivity after whitening. Do not consume dark coloured foods such as orange juice, cranberry juice, coffee, and alcohol should be avoided for at least a day after whitening. Avoid mouthwash for at least a day as well.
Try to limit cold foods for one or two days as well, as they can cause sensitivity after whitening.
At Home Whitening
When using over-the-counter whitening products for home use, much of the same rules apply as they do for in-office whitening. Remember to use toothpaste for sensitivity a few weeks before starting whitening and after finishing whitening. This will help to reduce any effects of sensitivity afterwards.
Remember to follow these teeth whitening tips regardless of if you will be using an at-home whitening system or having professional in-office whitening.
About Dr. Joseph Salvaggio
Located in Brampton, Ontario Dr. Joseph Salvaggio has been practicing general, cosmetic, and implant dentistry for over 20 years. He enjoys interacting with his patients and helping to restore their oral health for better overall health as well. Meeting new patients, interacting and educating them is one of Dr. Salvaggio’s biggest joys. We encourage you to read our reviews or call us with any dental questions you have. We look forward to speaking with you and meeting you soon.