If you are considering having your teeth bleached or whitened, make sure you read our previous blog post on the 5 Factors to consider before you have your teeth whitened.
Now that you have read the information and are aware of the potential issues, here are 5 tips on how you can improve your teeth whitening experience:
Tip #1: Ask the dentist/nurse for Vaseline or bring your lip balm to the appointment
Your mouth is going to be opened and teeth bared for about one hour – during this time, your lips are likely to get dry. Lip balm or Vaseline will lubricate your lips and also make it more comfortable for you
Tip #2: Make sure you do not have a mouth ulcer or sensitive teeth on the day of your treatment
Since bleaching gel is going to be used on your teeth, there is also a chance that this gel will reach your mouth ulcer causing unnecessary discomfort. In addition, those with a pre-existing sensitive teeth condition will find the whitening process rather uncomfortable.
Tip #3: Music or videos during treatment
Some clinics may have CDs for you to listen to, or DVDs for you to watch during a whitening session. It will certainly help the time to pass faster and more pleasantly.
Tip #4: Take a washroom break before the whitening begins
You are not going to be very mobile for the next hour or so. Therefore, it would be a good practice to ensure you make a trip to the washroom before making yourself comfortable in the dental chair.
Tip #5: Be Realistic about your Expectations
We have said this before but it is worth repeating – discuss with your dentist ahead of time what the possible range of shades are for your teeth to be whitened, and how many cycles that will require. Bear in mind that the lighter the shade, the more cycles of treatment required during the session, and the higher the chances of experiencing sensitivity.
Not all teeth respond the same way to whitening treatment. Teeth that are discoloured due to medication will not brighten as well as yellowish or brownish stained teeth. The results of the whitening may not last as long if you consume coffee, red wine, tea or other stain inducing foods on a regular basis.
For more information on whitening, visit our teeth whitening page.
