Whitening your teeth is a simple process, and you can achieve great results by following the steps below. Please read all the tips to get the best out of your whitening experience.
Consistency is very important when whitening your teeth. You will get diminished results if you skip days and try to pick back up on the whitening. It's best to pick a time to start when you can whiten every day until the desired results are achieved.
By the same token, avoiding overusing the whitening gel is also essential. If you use the trays, for example, multiple times on the same day, you could very easily damage your teeth.
On that note, whiten only once daily to avoid potential damage to your teeth and gums. Teeth whitening is safe when done correctly, but moderation is key, like everything in life.
Teeth Whitening Steps
- Place whitening gel on clean teeth. Brush and floss as you usually would before placing your whitening trays.
- The whitening gel is placed only on the inside surface of the tray that faces the cheek. Use just a water droplet amount for each tooth, and be aware that porcelain does not whiten, so there is no need to place whitening gel on veneers or crowns.
- Seat the tray fully over the teeth.
- Any excess gel that extrudes from the tray can be wiped away with your finger, tissue or a Q-tip. Leaving this gel on the gums can cause gum irritation.
- Active treatment time for whitening is approximately45 minutesa day. After completion, remove the trays and rinse them with cool water and brush out the trays with your toothbrush. Spit out any extra gel and rinse with water.
- After 30 minutes, brush your teeth as usual. For sensitive teeth, Sensodyne or Colgate-sensitive toothpaste will help reduce temperature sensitivity.
- After a half hour, you can brush your teeth. For people with sensitive teeth, it can be very helpful to use Colgate-sensitive toothpaste or Sensodyne to reduce temperature sensitivity.
{Optional Extra Step} ACP Paste or MI Paste are products designed to recalcify teeth after whitening. Apply either paste onto the fronts of your teeth with your finger and on any particularly sensitive areas. Then reinsert your trays without any whitening gel for 15 minutes. After this step, you can remove trays and spit out the excess paste butDO NOT rinse.Then clean the trays and place them back into their protective case once dry. Do not use MI paste if you have a casein allergy.
It will take anywhere from a few days up to two weeks to achieve ideal whitening results.
FOR THE BEST LONG TERM RESULTS:
- Do not smoke with trays and wait at least two hours after using the whitening gel.
- Avoid eating or drinking with the trays in and for at least 1 hour afterward.
- Avoid as best you can any highly staining foods and drinks like pasta, wine, beets etc., during your whitening treatment, including up to 48 hours after your last application.
- To reduce the risk of staining brush after every meal.
- Use whitening gel at room temperature. Store in a cool place out of direct sunlight at temperatures between 2-25°C.
- The whitening gel is meant to be used at room temperature but for daily storage, keep it in a cool place (2-25°C) out of direct sunlight.
- If you have unused whitening gel, it can be kept stored in the fridge to extend its shelf life.
- Some people will need to touch up results every6-12 months, while others may only need to every 2-3 years.
- While sensitivity can increase on teeth during whitening, it typically resolves within 24-48 hours after the whitening treatment. If the sensitivity becomes too much, you can always discontinue use on the sensitive teeth or try a sensitive toothpaste if you haven't been using one.
PRECAUTIONS FOR TEETH WHITENING:
- Whitening gel should be kept out of the reach of pets and children.
- Whitening is not recommended for pregnant women or children under 14 years old. We want to wait until all the permanent teeth are in.
- Teeth whitening is not recommended for children under 14 years old as we prefer all the adult teeth to be in.
- Whitening is not recommended for pregnant women. Although no adverse effects have been shown in pregnancy, we discourage the use as a precaution.
- There are no contraindications to breastfeeding mothers, they are free to whiten their teeth.
FIRST AID:
- Eye (contact): Flush your eyes with water and seek medical advice if adverse symptoms develop
- Skin (contact): Wash thoroughly with water and seek medical advice if eczema develops
- Ingestion (large amounts): Drink plenty of water and seek medical attention
Dr. Gurpreet Sidhu
With nearly two decades of experience, Dr. Sidhu enjoys helping his patients learn about dentistry. Knowledge is meant to be improved, challenged and shared.
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