Directions following Teeth Whitening
Start the whitening process by brushing your teeth and rinsing well. Place a dot of bleaching gel in the front portion of the custom fitted tray and spread the gel with the syringe tip. Place the trays on your teeth and gently press the tray to move the gel into place. Wipe away any excess gel on the gum tissue with your finger or tissue and spit out any excess. Wear the trays for 30-60 minutes daily. Remove the trays. Wipe the gel out with tissue and use a toothbrush with water (no paste) to clean the trays thoroughly.
Everyone whitens at a different rate, but the average time that most people notice a color change is after wearing the trays daily for 2-3 weeks. Yellow and brown stains bleach faster than blue or grey stained teeth.
One of the most common side effects of whitening is sensitivity and it is not uncommon to experience sensitive teeth after (or during) the whitening process. It is even possible to experience little “zings” in the teeth during the process and even a day or two afterwards. If this occurs and it is not tolerable, you may want to decrease the daily whitening to every 2 to 3 days. It is helpful to use a toothpaste for “sensitive teeth” for 4-6 weeks prior to whitening; this can help prevent or temporarily reduce sensitivity. Patients with periodontal disease or with excessive root surface exposure may notice significant sensitivity. Using a “sensitive teeth” toothpaste and nighttime fluoride rinse prior to bleaching may help desensitize your teeth prior to bleaching.
White spots on the gum tissue or teeth after removing the trays is common and will generally disappear within the hour. Try to remove as much excess gel from the gum tissue when putting the trays in your mouth, to prevent this from occurring.
The canine teeth are usually the darkest teeth and will require more time to whiten. Teeth are naturally darker near the gumline due to the thinness o f the enamel. It may take more time to lighten these areas and will usually remain slightly darker than the rest of the tooth. If some teeth are lighter than others you can even out by placing gel in the tray to the corresponding darker teeth.
To keep your teeth whiter longer, remember that anything that will stain a white shirt may stain your teeth. Coffee, tea, tobacco, dark soda, red wine, cherries, blueberries and tomato sauce can all discolor teeth and should be avoided during the entire whitening process.
Teeth that have a crown or filling material will not lighten (some surface stains on fillings may lighten). Fillings and crowns may need to be replaced if you are not satisfied with the color of these restorations.
Storing the bleaching gel in the refrigerator will extend its shelf life. Whitening gel should be taken out of the refrigerator or placed under warm water to bring to room temperature prior to placing in the whitening trays.
IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES OR CONCERNS, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT OUR OFFICE AT 517-223-3779.
Click the Services below for more information on each subject.
Click the Technologies below for more information on each subject.
Click the Post Op below for more information on each subject.
