After whitening
For anyone who has had in-office whitening today, or is using take-home trays.
Call us if…
- Sensitivity is severe or has not settled after a week.
- A gum area is white, sore or ulcerated where gel may have touched it.
- One tooth is noticeably more painful than the others.
The first 48 hours
- Teeth take up stain easily right now. Avoid coffee, tea, red wine, cola, tomato sauce, curry, soy sauce, berries and smoking.
- If it would stain a white shirt, it will stain your teeth this week.
- Water, milk, plain chicken, rice, pasta without sauce and white cheese are all fine.
Sensitivity
- Sharp cold twinges for a day or two are the most common effect and they pass.
- A sensitivity toothpaste used twice a day helps. Rub a little onto the sensitive teeth with a finger and leave it rather than rinsing.
- Avoid very cold drinks for a couple of days.
- If you are using take-home trays, it is fine to skip a night or shorten the wear time when teeth feel sensitive.
Keeping the result
- Whitening is not permanent. Color returns gradually, especially with coffee, tea, red wine and smoking.
- Topping up with your take-home trays occasionally is far cheaper than repeating the in-office session.
- Existing crowns, veneers and fillings do not lighten — if any now look darker than your teeth, talk to us about matching them.