Myth: Stains Occur Faster After Whitening In the first couple days after whitening, you must avoid foods and beverages with dark pigments, such as coffee and berries. After the pores in your enamel close, your teeth will retain their newly whitened color.
This softens tooth enamel and dehydrates it, often causing demineralization in the process. Dehydration is part of the process as the bleaching gel permeates through the enamel of your teeth to reach the dentin layer below, where the staining and discolouration have occurred over time.
However, it's important to understand that your teeth are especially susceptible to discoloration and staining immediately after teeth whitening. Thus, what you do after teeth whitening, especially in the first 48 hours after treatment, determines how well your results will last.
Teeth can become temporarily dehydrated after using whitening strips. Your teeth may appear more yellow as a result of this dehydration because the enamel may become dry and lack moisture. Dehydrated enamel sometimes has a transparent appearance that makes the naturally yellowish dentin underneath visible.
Now, the big concern: do teeth go back to their original colour after whitening? The answer is that they can, but not immediately and only sometimes wholly. Gradual Fading: Over time, the whitening effects can fade.
Teeth are thought to become more sensitive after whitening because the whitener weakens the teeth slightly, exposing “dentinal microtubules” that connect the outside of the tooth to the nerves inside.
The pores slowly close over the next two to three days, but during that time, your teeth are more susceptible to staining from foods and drinks. For at least the first 48 hours, it's best to avoid darkly colored foods and drinks, including berries, coffee, tea, red wine, and tomato sauce.
To fix patchy teeth whitening, you can perform spot treatments with a pumice stone and hydrochloric acid. However, you'll want to check with your dentist before taking action. Patchy teeth whitening can be caused by several of these, with dehydration of your tooth enamel's surface being one of them.
We do not recommend using Crest 3D Whitestrips on your back teeth because the strips are specially designed to fit front teeth — the teeth shown when you smile. If you use Whitestrips on the back teeth, the strips may become loose and eventually fall off during the wear period as a result.
Most People Can Whiten Their Teeth Once a Year
Dentists monitor the risks and only recommend whitening to eligible candidates. Most people can get a full bleaching system every 12-18 months with touch-ups throughout the year.
What are the risks of teeth whitening? No matter what treatment you use, there's a chance your gums will be sensitive to the chemicals used in teeth whitening, particularly if you already have sensitive teeth. There's also a chance of burns to gums and some of the whitening kits used at home can harm tooth enamel.
Foods and drinks with strong pigments, such as coffee, tea, red wine, and some fruits like berries, can reverse the effects of teeth whitening by staining your teeth. Consuming these in moderation and practicing good oral hygiene can help maintain whitening results.
However, that hasn't stopped oral hygiene brands from capitalising on the market by offering whitening and charcoal toothpastes, although patients should be cautious about using these. While whitening toothpaste may remove surface stains, it can be abrasive and damage the enamel, making it even more prone to staining.
The natural process of remineralizing the teeth can take anywhere from 24-72 hours, depending on overall oral health and the type of whitening treatment used. Patients should take extra care to follow these rules during the first two or three days after a whitening treatment.
To maintain your whiter smile, use up to two Crest 3DWhitestrips teeth whitening systems per year; or try Crest 3DWhitestrips Classic Vivid. These 30-minute once a day strips whiten and help protect your smile against staining.
A small quan;ty of the gel will achieve the desired result. Align the loaded tray over the teeth, press down onto the bi;ng surfaces with your fingers and thumbs and with your finger, rub the smiling surface of each tooth, so the gel fully covers the teeth.
Brushing too soon could potentially damage this delicate layer and lead to tooth sensitivity or even enamel erosion over time. To strike a balance between these perspectives, dentists often recommend waiting at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth after using whitening strips.
Schedule a Follow-Up Consultation and Treatment
If your last whitening treatment didn't provide the desired results, a follow-up session may be all you need. In-office treatments like KöR® Teeth Whitening can be repeated after a few weeks, provided your teeth are healthy enough for a touch-up treatment.
The Importance of Aftercare. In the days and weeks following your treatment, your new, whiter teeth are more susceptible to staining. That's because the whitening process opens the pores in your tooth enamel, making them more receptive to colors from foods and drinks.
By gently coating your teeth with a product like MI Paste or Colgate's Pro-Argin Toothpaste, you will plug up open pores on your teeth and reduce sensitivity. Additionally, the remineralizing effects of these pastes help to improve whitening.
As the acids leach away minerals from the tooth enamel, they leave behind chalky, white patches.
Stay Away from Hot and Cold Beverages: Extreme temperatures can exacerbate tooth sensitivity, especially after teeth whitening. Avoid consuming hot and cold beverages immediately after whitening to prevent discomfort and potential damage to the enamel.