Teeth Whitening
FOLLOWING IN-OFFICE TEETH WHITENING. It is not uncommon for your teeth to feel sensitive after whitening.
Drinking particularly hot or cold beverages may trigger sensitivity, so it is best to avoid these.
Using desensitizing or a high fluoride toothpaste may help alleviate some sensitivity. The sensitivity is temporary, and any sensitivity should subside after a day or two.
Following the in-office whitening for at least one week,
AVOID staining foods like:
Strawberries or any fruit with color
Mustard or Ketchup or Red Sauces
Soy Sauce or Steak Sauce
Red Meat (steak or hamburger)
or staining liquids like:
Coffee, Tea
Dark Sodas, Red Wine
WHITENING TRAYS INSTRUCTIONS
Prior to Treatment: The whitening gel is most effective after you brush and floss your teeth. The bleaching trays MUST be clean and dry prior to applying the gel.
1. Applying the Bleaching Gel: Place a SMALL drop of whitening gel on the front/middle of each tooth reservoir in the tray. DO NOT OVERFILL.
2. Inserting the Bleaching Trays: After inserting the whitening tray, DO NOT spread the bleach. Simply allow the tray to fit naturally over each tooth and wipe any excess gel off the gums with your finger or a tissue. Bleaching the front 8-10 teeth is recommended since the back teeth are not visible when smiling.
3. Wearing Time: For first time whiteners, 30 minutes to 1 hour whitening time is recommended. Increase your wearing time if you experience little to no tooth sensitivity.
4. After Whitening: Remove the tray & rinse off your teeth with tepid water. Brush away any remaining gel with your toothbrush. Continue to brush & floss regularly, as well as maintain regularly-scheduled dental cleanings.
5. Caring for Your Trays & Whitening Gel: Clean whitening trays with a toothbrush or Q-tip and cold water. Store trays in the provided container & store the gel in cool, dry place away from heat & direct sunlight. The gel may be refrigerated to prolong it’s shelf life, but do not freeze.
You may temporarily experience discomfort of the gums, lips, throat, or tongue.
Should any of these symptoms persist more than two days or progressively worsen, call your dentist.
These side effects will usually subside within 1 to 3 days after treatment is discontinued.
IMPORTANT!!!
Tooth Whitening (bleaching) gel will only whiten natural teeth.
It will NOT bleach (whiten), nor harm bonding, caps, crowns, bridges, fillings or any other artificial dental work.
You may have to have the dentistry redone in order to match your new white teeth.
Tetracycline (an antibiotic) stained teeth or grayish teeth are more difficult to bleach and have a varied prognosis.
Exposed root portion of teeth which occurs with gum recession will also not bleach.
WARNINGS!
Keep bleaching gel out of reach of children.
Do NOT use if pregnant or during nursing.
Do NOT smoke, drink or eat while bleaching your teeth.
MENTAL NOTES:
As an average, optimum results are achieved after 20-30 cumulative sessions of wear-time.
Longer wear times create faster whitening results.
Faster results can be achieved with higher concentrations of Carbamide Peroxide or Hydrogen Peroxide.
50 percent of the bleaching takes place in the first 1 to 2 hours.
Conduct your whitening session once per day until desired level of whitening is attained.
It is your dentist’s desire that your experience be as smooth and pleasant as possible. Following these instructions will assist you, but if you have concerns and/or questions about your progress, please call your dentist’s office immediately!
We encourage you to speak up if you do not like or understand some aspects of your oral care. You deserve to be heard and your dentist deserves the opportunity to listen. This is what most dentists do, and they will make considerable efforts to accomodate you.
You will be responsible for all costs incurred if you fail to follow these instructions.