When it comes to teeth whitening, nothing gets better results than a professional treatment from our Tampa dentist. Here’s what to expect during your first teeth whitening appointment, including risks to avoid.
What to Expect With Professional Teeth Whitening
It all begins with a consult with our dentist where we’ll discuss your desired level of treatment, walk you through the options we offer, and answer any questions you have. In addition to treatments in our office, we can fit you for at-home teeth whitening kits that are more effective than what you’ll find sold in drugstores. The powerful at-home whitening kits our dentist can offer are a great way to brighten your smile on your own time. We’ll talk you through the pros and cons of each approach during your consult.
Before the first treatment we’ll polish up your teeth to remove any plaque so the treatment can penetrate. We’ll then use a barrier to separate gums from teeth and retractors to keep lips, cheeks, and tongue away from teeth. Once everything is set up, we will paint the front side of your teeth with a whitening solution. The solution needs to penetrate, and some teeth whitening systems need a laser to cure.
When time’s up, we’ll wash away the treatment and send you home. Depending on your desire level of tooth whitening, it may take several visits to get the shade you seek.
How to Maintain Results After Professional Teeth Whitening
After a teeth whitening appointment in our dental clinic, you will need to avoid foods that stain teeth in order to keep your great results.
We recommend avoiding foods that could stay in your teeth, which include:
- Coffee
- Tea
- Tomatoes
- Beets
- Wine
- Hard candies
- Tobacco and cigarettes
Drinking through a straw can help you enjoy a favorite beverage without staining your teeth. If you do indulge in these foods, brush your teeth after to avoid discoloration.
Sensitivity and Other Risks to Know
Some patients experience increased oral sensitivity after tooth whitening appointments. Dentists don’t know exactly why teeth whitening sometimes increases sensitivity; one possibility maybe the whitening agent peroxide, which can sometimes irritate dental nerves.
When sensitivity increases, you may feel an uncomfortable tingling sensation when eating or drinking. Your teeth may become more sensitive to cold foods or drinks.
If you develop sensitivity after teeth whitening, a fluoride treatment may decrease irritation. Special toothpaste for sensitivity can also help protect teeth. In the immediate moment, take an aspirin to reduce pain and avoid any food or drinks that trigger unpleasant feelings.
If you know your teeth are sensitive, we will apply a desensitizing product before giving you a tooth whitening treatment. We will also check that there are no underlying issues such as cavities.
We offer the most advanced teeth whitening systems, which can deliver superior results. If you have tried at-home whitening kits and weren’t happy with the results, schedule a consultation to see what we can do for you.