HOW TO PREPARE FOR AN IN-OFFICE TEETH WHITENING SESSION

24 May 2021

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The success of teeth whitening depends on many factors. And although you pay more for in-office teething whitening, this method will often give you the best results. This is because in-office whitening caters to the needs of each specific patient. But good preparation beforehand is crucial to the success of your treatment.

If you plan to hire a dentist to whiten your teeth, make sure you prepare yourself and your teeth before your whitening session. Good preparation ensures good results. Prepare for your teeth-whitening session in the following ways.

Switch to a Desensitizing Toothpaste

Teeth normally become a little sensitive during and after a whitening procedure. This is normal. During the whitening process, the blue or UV light along with the whitening chemicals may cause teeth to become sensitive. Teeth contain pores as well as tubules that contain liquid, and these pores and tubules can transmit the sensations that heat and chemicals bring.

This sensitivity is bearable, but you can lessen the level of sensitivity by switching to desensitizing toothpaste several weeks before your teeth whitening session. Desensitizing toothpaste closes the pores responsible for transmitting sensation to the tooth nerves. This is important if you have especially sensitive teeth.

Remove Staining Foods From Your Diet Prior to Whitening

To improve the results of your whitening session, stop partaking of foods that contain heavy staining molecules a few weeks before your whitening appointment. Remember that beverages like tea, coffee, and red wine contain tannins, which can stain teeth badly. Switch to some lighter alternatives, such as milk or white wine.

And remember that dark or brightly colored foods also stain teeth. Before your whitening appointment, avoid tomato sauces in pasta and pizzas, as well as ketchup and brightly colored vegetables like broccoli or beetroot.

The less staining your teeth have prior to your whitening appointment, the more likely you'll be able to achieve the shade that you desire.

Ensure You Have Plenty of Time for Your Appointment

Although, on average, in-office whitening takes from 30 to 60 minutes, make sure you don't have to rush your whitening appointment. If, for some reason, you need more time to achieve your ideal shade, but you run out of time, you won't get the best out of your whitening appointment.

As such, allow yourself at least a couple of hours for your appointment. This will give you and your dentist time to whiten your teeth to the shade you desire. And you'll have time to talk to your dentist about how best to care for your teeth post-whitening treatment.

Book a Dental Checkup Before Your Whitening Session

Be sure that you don't have any untreated dental issues before your whitening treatment. If you have a hidden cavity and you whiten your teeth, the whitening bleach can enter the cavity and irritate your tooth. This can be painful and could damage the nerve inside your tooth. Book a dental checkup to ensure that you don't have any hidden cavities.

And during the checkup, your dentist can see if you need a dental cleaning or not. Clean teeth whiten better than teeth covered in tartar and plaque.

Go Over a Shade Guide With Your Dentist

Before your whitening session, use a shade guide with your dentist to identify the shade that you want to achieve. Your dentist can also use this time to work out what kind of shade is most realistic for you according to your natural shade and the current shade of your teeth. A shade guide can also give you a clear idea of what your whitening results will look like after your whitening session.

If you aren't happy with your teeth's current shade of white, a professional chairside whitening session can help. At Desert Dental, we can whiten your teeth by up to 12 shades in just 60 minutes. Call us today to book your in-office teeth  whitening  appointment. With our help, you'll soon have the winning smile that you desire.

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