A beautiful, white smile is something that many of us strive for. Teeth whitening can help to achieve this goal. It can help remove stains and discoloration from the teeth, giving you a brighter and more attractive appearance. However, not everyone knows what happens before, during, and after the teeth whitening process. This guide will cover all the basics, so you can decide whether or not you should have the procedure.
How to Prepare
Get a dental checkup if you haven’t had one in the past six months or more. You also must maintain a proper oral hygiene routine in the days following your appointment. Be sure to eat at least 30 minutes before the procedure since you can’t consume food during the whitening treatment. Additionally, floss and brush your teeth thoroughly before heading to the dentist. Doing these things will help ensure that your gums and teeth are healthy and ready for the whitening procedure.
If you have any dental restorations, such as crowns or veneers, you should take into account their color when considering an in-office whitening treatment. Porcelain restorations will not change color with your real teeth. If your teeth have yellowed since you got your restoration, you may want to bring your natural teeth back to the same shade as the restoration.
However, if the restoration already matches the color of your teeth or if you want your teeth to be brighter than the restoration, you should think about replacing the restoration after you have whitened your teeth. This will ensure that the restoration won’t be an obvious oddity compared to your newly bright teeth.
What to Expect
Before starting the treatment, your teeth will be thoroughly cleaned to remove plaque and tartar. This is necessary to get optimal results from the whitening. To protect your gums, lips, and cheeks, a damp gauze will be placed in your mouth, and retractors will be used to keep the sensitive tissues away from the whitening solution. Lastly, a protective barrier will be painted onto your gums to prevent the whitening gel from coming into contact with them.
The whitening process usually takes an hour, and although it is not painful, you may feel a slight tingling or warmth. The light helps activate the gel to give you a brighter smile faster. You may listen to music or watch TV while it happens. After the whitening treatment, your teeth are washed with water. This will leave you with brighter, whiter teeth.
Aftercare
Teeth whitening only helps to remove existing discoloration from your teeth, but you should still be careful about what you eat afterward to prevent new stains from forming. After two days, it’s best to stay away from anything acidic and colorful. Instead, opt for light-colored fruits and vegetables and high-calcium food like plain white yogurt and chicken. Doing this will help keep your teeth looking as white and bright as possible for longer.
After 48 hours of maintaining a diet without staining foods and drinks, you should still be mindful of what you eat and drink. Try to limit items like coffee, wine, soda, tomato sauce, blueberries, and balsamic vinegar, as these can be staining. To help reduce staining, use a straw when consuming dark-colored drinks.
Additionally, maintain a good oral hygiene routine by brushing your teeth two times a day, flossing, and gargling with mouthwash, as well as visiting your dentist for regular checkups. These practices will help keep your teeth white and prevent staining.
Conclusion
Teeth whitening is a safe and effective dental procedure to improve your smile. When done correctly, it can dramatically improve your teeth’ appearance in a short time. However, the results may only last for a while. You may need to undergo additional treatments to maintain your desired shade of white.
Improve and maintain oral health after a dental appointment at Chelmsford Dental Specialists Group. We provide in-house teeth whitening treatments to give you a brighter smile. For more details, contact our dental office in Chelmsford, MA.
