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.
Understanding the Impact of Whitening on Gum Health
Gum irritation often occurs when the whitening solution accidentally touches the gumline, resulting in redness or mild inflammation. Although these symptoms are generally temporary, but are uncomfortable, especially if you have sensitive gums.
If the strips begin to slip, close your mouth and create suction to tighten the strips up again. 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.
Bleaching agents that whiten your teeth can often temporarily irritate the gums. In a healthy patient, that irritation is minor. However, for patients who have active gum disease, the whitening agents can cause more severe gum reactions such as increased redness, swelling, and even pain.
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.
Gum Problems
Peroxide is a powerful chemical that can significantly whiten teeth in some cases but think about what is right up against your teeth- soft delicate gums. If you get too much contact with your gums and the strips it can damage them.
While it may be tempting to brush immediately after using strips, it's best to wait for your enamel to recover before brushing gently with a sensitive toothpaste. By following these guidelines, you can enjoy a radiant smile without compromising your dental health.
Chewing gum could also increase stimulated salivary flow that might help reduce whitening-induced tooth sensitivity. It is well documented that gum chewing can stimulate salivary flow and reduce the incidence of dental caries. Studies also show that stimulating the flow of saliva alters its composition.
Methods for At-Home Teeth Whitening
Baking Soda: As long as you are careful to brush gently, baking soda can eliminate stains from the surface of your teeth without damaging them. Whitening Strips: Whitening strips mold to the shape of your teeth to whiten them. Whitening strips are both safe and effective.
#2 Another cause of gum recession is the excessive use of teeth whitening strips. Purchasing over-the-counter whitening strips can damage the gums because the whitening solution is very powerful. Should this solution touch the gums, they shrivel away, causing gum recession.
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.
Rinsing with Water: After using whitening strips, rinsing your mouth with water is an effective way to remove any remaining gel or residue. Swishing water around your mouth helps to wash away the whitening solution without the need for immediate brushing.
Please do not wear 3DWhitestrips while you sleep – especially overnight. While taking a nap during your 30-60 minute strip application time may sound like a great time saver, it could result in wearing the strips longer than recommended, which can result in teeth sensitivity and/or gum discomfort.
Don't wait until the burning gets worse! Then, rinse your mouth: Rinsing with warm saltwater swishes away any lingering bleaching product and soothes the irritation. As long as you stop the bleaching treatment quickly, the good news is that gum irritation usually resolves on its own after a few days.
Do Not Consume Dark Food or Beverages After Whitening. Give your teeth some time after the teeth whitening strips are applied to close their pores. These pores will be open for a couple hours after the strips are applied, making the teeth that much more likely to stain if contacted with foods and beverages of dark hues ...
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.
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.
Prolonged exposure to peroxide can weaken tooth enamel, increase sensitivity, and contribute to issues like cavities and gum irritation. It's crucial to be aware of potential side effects and discontinue use if persistent sensitivity occurs.
The trauma of a tooth extraction may cause the gums surrounding the extraction site to turn white. Gums will usually return to their normal color within a few days.
Soft tissue or gum irritation caused by teeth whitening gel is considered a chemical burn, very comparable to a sunburn. When a chemical burn occurs, the area becomes mildly sore, turns white, and will eventually flake off. The tissue will return to normalcy within twenty-four hours.
Tooth sensitivity and gum pain after whitening should only last a few days. If your pain is severe and long-lasting, let your dentist know right away. There are ways to find relief.
The strips are applied to upper and lower teeth, once a day, for up to 30 minutes. Depending on the specific Crest 3D White Whitestrips product chosen, strips should be applied daily for anywhere from 10 to 20 consecutive days.
Instead of immediately brushing your teeth, rinse your mouth thoroughly with water after removing the strips. This helps remove any residual gel left on your teeth while also allowing time for your saliva to neutralize and remineralize your tooth enamel.
Tooth Brushing: Before or After Breakfast
By brushing before breakfast, you don't allow the bacteria from breakfast add to the plaque already formed. Brushing your teeth before breakfast also lowers the risk that the enamel will be damaged.