Tooth Whitening Home Care Instructions

What You Should Do After Your In-Office Teeth Whitening Treatment To Ensure A Long Lasting, Bright And Healthy Smile.

Teeth whitening is a conservative, quick and affordable way to brighten the look of your teeth without resorting to dental veneers, crowns or composite bonding. After bleaching your tooth enamel, it is important to follow these post-visit instructions to ensure an uneventful healing period.

If you have not had your teeth whitening appointment yet, please read our pre-visit instructions.

For A Whiter Smile, Please Follow These Instructions:

• For the next 48 hours, dark staining substances should be avoided, such as berries, ketchup, red sauces, tobacco products, coffee, mustard, soy sauce, cola, red wine, and tea. 
• In addition, do not use any colored mouthwash or home fluoride treatment. If your daily homecare involves the use of Chlorhexidine, please wait 48 hours before continuing the usage of this product. 
• Continue regular dental hygiene appointments. 
• Practice good oral hygiene including thorough tooth brushing, flossing to remove debris from between the teeth and tongue cleaning. 

Postoperative Tooth Sensitivity 

Some patients experience tooth sensitivity (known informally as “zingers”) for 1 to 3 days after in-office whitening. There are a number of things you can do to minimize tooth sensitivity:

• Use desensitizing toothpastes such as Sensodyne Rapid Relief Daily Sensitivity Toothpaste. Apply directly onto the sensitive tooth surface for instant pain relief.
• You are also welcome to use over the counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). Ask your dentist what dosage is right for you, but if you do not have a pre-existing medical condition of allergies, 1000mg acetaminophen (Tylenol) with 600mg ibuprofen (Advil) every 4-6 hours or as needed is a very powerful combination.
• Avoid food and drink that is too cold or hot for the next few days.

Oral Hygiene

• Brush At Least Twice A Day: Conventional wisdom says that you should brush at least twice a day; once in the morning and once before you go to bed. Two times a day is a good rule of thumb. But ideally, you should brush right after a meal. This is to maximize the amount of time your teeth stay clean between meals.
• When You Cannot Brush Your Teeth, Rinse With Water Or Mouthwash: It is sometimes not practical to be brushing after every meal. You may be busy at work or at school during your day and cannot find time to brush or floss. If this is the case, at least rinse with water or mouthwash to get as much food debris and taste out of your mouth. One brand that we highly recommend is Crest 3D White Glamorous Whitening Mouthwash.
• Consider Upgrading Your Toothbrush: Ensure you are using a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean the area around your newly whitened teeth, as it is gentler on your teeth and gums and less likely to cause tooth sensitivity. One brand of toothbrush that we highly recommend is the Curaprox CS5460 Ultra Soft Swiss Toothbrush. Also consider upgrading to an electric toothbrush, which can be more effective at removing plaque and bacteria from teeth and gums. One brand of electric toothbrush that we highly recommend is the Philips Sonicare Protectiveclean 6100.
• Floss Daily: Flossing is critical to remove plaque and food particles that may accumulate around your newly whitened teeth. Ideally you should be flossing every time you brush, but once a day is the bare minimum. We recommend GUM ButlerWeave Dental Floss. If you have difficulty using regular string floss, consider using dental flossers (such as Sunstar 888JC GUM Advanced Care Flossers) or interdental brushes (GUM Proxabrush) to clean the space between your teeth.
• Buy A Water Flosser: We highly recommend you purchase a Water Flosser and to use it daily in addition to regular flossing; the Water Flosser will flush out debris missed by floss and toothbrush. Ideally you should be water flossing every time you brush, but once a day is the bare minimum. One brand that we highly recommend is the Waterpik Aquarius Water Flosser 
• Use A Teeth Whitening Antibacterial Mouthwash Daily: Rinse your mouth with an teeth whitening mouthwash specially formulated white teeth, healthy gums and fresh breath. Ideally you should be rinsing with mouthwash every time you brush, but once a day is the bare minimum. One brand that we highly recommend is Crest 3D White Glamorous Whitening Mouthwash.
• Use A Teeth Whitening Toothpaste: Be sure to use a whitening toothpaste that has a unique formula that will continue to whiten your teeth after in-office teeth whitening. One brand that we highly recommend is the Colgate Optic White Renewal High Impact Whitening Toothpaste .
• Attend Regular Check-Ups And Cleanings: Schedule regular check-ups and teeth cleanings with your dentist to monitor the health of your newly whitened teeth and gums. Your dentist will examine the your entire mouth and take digital x-rays images to check for any potential problems, as well as clean the area and surrounding teeth to remove any plaque or tartar buildup.

Take Home Whitening Available For Sale At Atlas Dental

If you would like to continue whitening your teeth from home after a session of in-office whitening, we can fabricate take-home whitening trays with whitening solutions. Please ask us for pricing.

Have Questions?

If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact us.