Professional teeth whitening procedures can make a huge difference in the appearance of your teeth. With whiter teeth, you will probably have increased confidence in your smile. Researching the procedure can help you know what to expect after getting your teeth professionally whitened.
Aftercare Tips
During a professional teeth whitening procedure, several layers of your tooth are exposed to get rid of deep stains. In particular, the dentin layer is exposed during and for a little while following the procedure. Because this is a deeper layer of your tooth that is not usually exposed, your teeth are more sensitive than usual after they are whitened. Be careful to avoid extremely hard, hot, or cold foods and beverages that could be especially painful. Instead, opt for milder, softer foods that you can chew and eat easily.
How to Prevent Stains
Because you just paid to get your teeth professionally whitened, you probably want to keep them white and shiny for a long time after the procedure. Coffee and tea are some of the biggest culprits when it comes to stained teeth. Immediately following the procedure, you should avoid staining foods and wait for your enamel to build back up. After those initial few days, you should still avoid staining foods if possible. If this is not possible, you can have small amounts of those foods and continue to brush your teeth thoroughly.
How Long It Lasts
While teeth whitening procedures can last quite a while, they don’t last forever. Rudimentary teeth whitening procedures that you buy at your local pharmacy may only last a few months. Professional procedures, on the other hand, last between one to three years. How long your results will last depends on how consistent and thorough you are with aftercare and regular brushing. It also depends on the types of foods and beverages you consume. If you know that you will want to get your teeth whitened again in the future, you should start setting aside or saving money for additional procedures.
Once you get your teeth professionally whitened, you will know what to expect if you get them done again. Make sure to consult with your dentist if you are experiencing any excessive pain or if you have any questions about the procedure or aftercare. You can take simple steps to take good care of your new smile while enjoying it.
Check out this article on how to preserve your teeth and avoid major issues later!
