Have you finally scheduled a teeth-whitening appointment? The journey to a bright smile involves several steps preceding and following the treatment. The process commences with a dental check-up, followed by a dental cleaning.
Once the teeth are cleaned and repaired, dentists provide shade guides to patients for the purpose of choosing a goal shade. Desensitizing toothpaste should be used in people with sensitive teeth so as to avoid pain.
We hope the following tips prepare you for your first professional teeth whitening treatment.
Schedule a dental check-up
Prior to attending professional teeth whitening treatment, individuals are encouraged to schedule a dental check-up in order to have a consultation with the dentist. This check-up allows dentists to examine the oral cavities of patients in search of potential infections, tooth decay, signs of gum disease, sensitive teeth, etc. It’s paramount for your teeth and gums to be healthy before undergoing such a procedure. Go to this site to learn some useful ways to deal with sensitive teeth.
Moreover, this check-up enables dentists to determine the type of teeth-whitening method, which is best suited to the dental condition of patients. For example, some patients cope with light stains, which can be removed with any kind of teeth-whitening product. Conversely, other individuals struggle with internal stains, requiring the most powerful bleaching agents to minimize discoloration. A consultation is essential for selecting the best treatment in order for both the patients and doctors to prepare for the procedure.
During the dental check-up, the dentist will provide you with some preparation tips to ensure the upcoming treatment yields the required results. Usually, patients are recommended to refrain from using tobacco, drinking plenty of coffee and tea, as well as eating berries or beets for a few days before the procedure.
Have your teeth cleaned and fixed
In case your dentist has found multiple tooth cavities, it’s essential to have these filled prior to the teeth-whitening appointment. Also, dentists consider teeth cleaning obligatory in order for the whitening treatment to provide the desired results. Professional cleaning is performed by dental hygienists, whose job is to prepare your teeth for whitening in the best manner possible.
Furthermore, the cleaning procedure is designed to remove tartar and plaque buildup, which prevent whitening agents from reaching the enamel and dentin. It’s crucial for the hygienist to eliminate all sediments before the application of a bleaching agent. Naturally, you are supposed to practice excellent oral hygiene in the form of flossing, brushing, and mouthwash usage.
Furthermore, the cleaning procedure is designed to remove tartar and plaque buildup, which prevent whitening agents from reaching the enamel and dentin. It’s crucial for the hygienist to eliminate all sediments before the application of a bleaching agent. Naturally, you are supposed to practice excellent oral hygiene in the form of flossing, brushing, and mouthwash usage.
Reduce the sensitivity of your teeth
People with sensitive teeth are expected to take precautions prior to scheduling an appointment for professional teeth whitening treatment. These individuals experience discomfort when their oral cavities are exposed to the abrasive nature of whitening agents, as well as the heat produced UV lights. Nowadays, numerous online health magazines, such as MensHealth.com, provide useful buying guides for teeth-whitening kits. Selecting the right products is indispensable for minimizing tooth sensitivity.
Such sensitivity is common in people whose enamel is incredibly thin. As a result, people experience pain and discomfort when consuming extremely hot or cold foods and beverages, acidic ingredients, sugary foods and drinks, cold water, etc. Also, their teeth are sensitive when exposed to cold air, flossing, or using alcohol-based mouthwash.
In order to prevent discomfort, these patients are suggested to use desensitizing toothpaste for a minimum of two weeks until the treatment. The use of strontium chloride and potassium nitrate as the main ingredients of the toothpaste prevents pain from traveling from the tooth to the nerve.
Brushing your teeth with desensitizing toothpaste is a convenient solution for preventing discomfort before and after the procedure. In case you suffer from abnormal sensitivity, make sure to consult the dentist about taking painkillers to relieve the expected pain.
Have a detailed look at the shade guide
The largest part of individuals interested in teeth-whitening treatments is confused when it comes to selecting the right shade. In order for your smile to look as natural as possible, it’s vital to make the best choice of shade. Fortunately, dentists are equipped with comprehensive shade guides, providing patients with a choice of numerous colors.
In addition, the role of dentists is to help patients make a comparison between the color of their natural teeth and the shades in the guide. You are supposed to choose two shades, those being a base and goal shade. The former refers to the one closest to your natural color, while the latter refers to the one you wish to achieve. After finding your base shade, the dentist will recommend the best goal shade in order for the results to be natural.
Schedule a follow-up appointment
Follow-up appointments are important for dentists to keep track of the results and check whether patients adhere to the aftercare requirements. Although teeth-whitening treatments don’t provide permanent results, following the advice of dentists after the procedure improves longevity. For instance, dental specialists suggest patients to use straws as often as possible in order to avoid staining liquids from coming in contact with their teeth.
Moreover, dentists recommended rinsing your mouth following every meal to prevent food particles from remaining inside the mouth. Also, regular flossing is the best method for practising satisfactory oral hygiene as long as you do it properly. Using too much strength when flossing will probably result in harming your gum tissue.
Regarding the things you are advised against doing, excessive smoking and drinking are at the top of the list. Both nicotine and alcohol contain tannins, compounds responsible for making your teeth look yellow. Acidic foods are also supposed to be avoided, along with sudden temperature changes triggered by consuming overly hot or cold beverages.
Finally, your regular toothpaste should be replaced with whitening toothpaste in order to maintain whiteness and prevent further discolorations.
Final word
Make sure not to skip any of the above-mentioned steps. These are indispensable for everyone dreaming of a bright smile.
Follow your dentist’s advice in order not to end up disappointed with the results!
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