The general rule of thumb is that your teeth should be dry when applying whitening strips. Moisture can interfere with the adhesion of the strips to your teeth, reducing their effectiveness. Before applying the strips, it's crucial to ensure your teeth are clean and completely dry.
Don't touch the strips excessively with your tongue. You can try gently tucking the strip in the spaces between your teeth with your fingernail, then folding it behind your teeth.
Can I Swallow my Saliva While using Whitening Strips? Yes, you can swallow your saliva while using whitening strips, as most bleaching agents in the strips are safe for oral use and ingestion in small amounts. But you do not need to swallow excessive amounts of saliva while using the strips.
Clean Surface for Better Adhesion: Brushing your teeth before applying whitening strips ensures that your teeth are clean, providing a better surface for the strips to adhere to. This can enhance the effectiveness of the whitening treatment.
If you experience a buildup of saliva while using, it's fine to briefly remove the device, expectorate (spit) and then replace it back into your mouth.
You might be tempted to leave whitening strips on your teeth for a little longer, but this will increase the risk and severity of side effects like sensitivity and gum irritation. In some cases, overuse of whitening strips has even led to chemical burns on the gums.
Whitening strips often contain peroxide-based chemicals to eliminate enamel stains, which may lead to temporary irritation and redness of the gums. This redness creates a visual contrast that can make the teeth seem more yellow.
Do not touch your gums with the whitening strips. The whitening agent in whitening strips can be harmful to your gums. Particularly, this agent can damage the soft tissue in your gums, which can lead to a wide array of oral health issues down the road. Apply whitening strips evenly.
The best way to use whitening strips is to cut them to the exact height of your teeth and apply them to your teeth, avoiding touching the gums as much as possible. Avoid UV lights, which can increase sensitivity and possibly cause damage to the teeth.
Avoid touching the Whitestrips excessively with your tongue; this may cause the strips to loosen. If you still are having trouble getting a strip to stick, try gently tucking it into the spaces between your teeth with your fingernail, then folding it behind the teeth.
For best results with any product that promotes white teeth, be sure to follow a routine of good oral hygiene, including twice-daily toothbrushing and daily flossing. Make sure to read the instructions on your products for white teeth—some suggest that you don't brush your teeth immediately before applying the product.
While some claim oil pulling can whiten teeth, scientific evidence is limited. It might help improve oral health but may not be the best whitening solution.
Tips to Get the Best Results
While teeth whitening strips can be used any time in the day, we recommend that you use them at night before bedtime to help whiten teeth. Brushing teeth after use can help remove any potential leftover residue.
Also, avoid acidic foods such as fermented items, vinegar, pickles, and citrus fruits. Although the pores should return to normal size after 48 hours, you can be cautious for a full week to make the most out of your teeth whitening treatment.
Yellow teeth can regain whiteness through various methods, including good oral hygiene, professional dental cleanings, and teeth-whitening treatments. Stains from coffee, tea, or tobacco can be removed with adequate oral care, while professional procedures like bleaching or laser treatments offer quicker results.
Factors Affecting the Longevity of Whitening
Several factors determine how long your teeth stay white, including the type of treatment, your lifestyle, and your oral care routine. Foods and drinks like coffee, wine, and berries can cause staining, while smoking can lead to yellowing of the teeth.
Extensive clinical and consumer testing was done to establish the safety and efficacy of Crest 3D White Whitestrips. However, based on the results of that work we do not recommend using more than 2 upper strips and 2 lower strips in a day.
Dental veneers are a great way to permanently whiten your teeth, so no more white strips and no need for whitening treatments. A dental veneer is a thin piece of porcelain material that is placed on top of natural teeth. They are bonded to the tooth with a cement-like material to ensure a stronghold.
Yes, it is recommended to rinse your mouth after whitening strips to remove any excess whitening gel that may have remained on your teeth. Be sure to use lukewarm water and rinse for at least 30 seconds.
3. Can I swallow saliva during teeth whitening? Yes, the teeth whitening gel is safe. The by-products when peroxide is broken down is largely oxygen (the byproduct that allows for the whitening process) and water.
Bleaching agent's etch the tooth's surface and during the process some people experience a “bubbly” sensation on the surface of their teeth or sharp pain inside a tooth. In the days following the treatment, some people may experience an ache in their teeth and heightened sensitivity to hot or cold food and drink.