What to Expect During a Teeth Whitening Session

People often say that their smile is the first thing they see when they meet someone. While your smile doesn't have to be perfect, whitening is made easy with the options available today.

A professional in-office teeth whitening service is the best solution if you want a brighter smile.

Lovett Dental uses only the finest ingredients and state-of-the-art equipment for whitening your teeth. Our office is quick and straightforward so that you can return to your day quickly.

It is essential to prepare for your teeth-whitening session. This guide will help you know what to expect and maintain your new whitened teeth.

Before You Go to Your Whitening Session

You don't need to do much to prepare for your appointment. Before your whitening session, you will most likely have an exam to ensure no other dental issues need to be addressed. 

Schedule a routine office checkup if you have not done so. The dentist can check your gums and teeth to ensure they are healthy. The procedure is very gentle, but your gums must be healthy enough for the bleaching agent and the whitening treatment.

Sensitivity is not something you can ignore, and hope will go away. It can be a sign that an underlying problem needs to be addressed, such as:

• Chips or cracks in a tooth
• Cavities
• Gum disease
• Worn fillings
• Too many whitening products

Our dentists will detect any issues in your mouth before starting your whitening procedure. We will create a plan to address your concerns and get you the white smile you have always wanted.

During your Whitening Session

After you have checked in, we will start your appointment with a professional cleaning. This removes any plaque or tartar that has hardened on your teeth, so we can start working with new enamel.

After the cleaning is done, the hygienist will place some gauze inside your mouth to keep it dry. The whitening agent can irritate sensitive tissue such as your lips, gums, teeth, and teeth. Retractors are placed into your mouth to prevent irritation.

The retractors prevent the whitening agent from touching sensitive tissue. Although the gel should not cause any irritation, we prefer to avoid it.

The whitening gel is then applied to your enamel. The agent reacts with your dentin. The dentin is a porous layer that gives each tooth its color and controls its appearance. These pores can expand and allow the whitener to penetrate the dentin to lighten the shade.

A special light is placed on your teeth to speed up the action of the whitening agent. This activates the gel, making it more efficient and giving you quicker results.

It usually takes around an hour for the whole procedure.

After your Whitening Session

You can return to your routine as soon as you have left our office. There are no significant restrictions on the food or drink you can eat within the first 48 hours. Your dentist will discuss how to keep your white smile white.

For the next few days, your dentin is still visible. Don't eat or drink foods that stain to encourage discoloration. Avoid acidic or colorful foods and drinks.

Certain foods can stain everything they touch, even your teeth. Foods to avoid include spaghetti sauce, dark wines, and coffee. You can resume your regular diet after 48 hours.

After a professional whitening session, you might feel a slight sensitivity. This is a temporary and common side effect, which is nothing to worry about. It usually disappears within two to three days. Contact our office if you continue to experience sensitivity. You can use special toothpaste to reduce the sensitivity of your teeth.

Keep Your Teeth White

Your brightened teeth will last longer if you have a good oral hygiene routine. 

You should brush and floss your teeth twice daily and use mouthwash at least once a day. These good habits for cleaning keep tartar and plaque at bay will help prevent food and drink staining from building up.

Lovett Dental recommends regular visits to ensure that you get your cleanings. Regular visits allow your dentist to detect problems before they become significant issues.

After your treatment, you can use trusted teeth whitening toothpaste. Ask your dentist for recommendations on the American Dental Association-recommended brands. 

If you wish to maintain your pearly whites, a professional whitening treatment can be performed once or twice per year.

Ready to book your professional teeth whitening appointment? 

Our team at Lovett Dental can help you get started. We are happy to answer any questions you may have and help you schedule your whitening appointment. Your smile will be whiter than ever!