Caring For Your Teeth After A Whitening Procedure

One of the many cosmetic dentistry services that we offer at Community Dental Group is professional teeth whitening or dental bleaching. If you plan to have your teeth professionally whitened here at our Thousand Oaks office, we want you to be aware of the care issues you will need to follow, especially during the first 48 hours after the procedure has been completed.

 

Issues With Sensitivity

You may experience some issues with sensitivity during the first 48 to 72 hours after your teeth whitening procedure has been completed. In extreme cases, this sensitivity may last up to a week after your teeth have been whitened. If this happens, an over-the-counter pain reliever such as Advil or Tylenol should counteract any pain or discomfort that you may be experiencing. Try brushing with a toothpaste that relieves sensitivity and chewing sugarless gum to counteract the sensitivity.

 

Beverages And Foods To Avoid

In addition to the sensitivity issues discussed above, there are certain beverages and foods that you should avoid. A good rule of thumb to follow is to temporary avoid drinking or eating anything that could stain a light-colored or white shirt. Community Dental Group recommends that you avoid the following types of beverages and foods after undergoing a teeth whitening procedure:

Cold beverages and foods – you may experience heightened sensitivities to cold beverages and foods. So you’ll want to avoid drinking or eating anything right out of the refrigerator until the sensitivity passes. Examples would be frozen yogurt, ice cream, ice water, and other frozen desserts.

Dark liquids – clear and most white liquids such as milk and water (regular or sparkling) are okay to drink after having your teeth whitened. However, you should avoid coffee, dark soft drinks, red wine, and (hot or iced tea). Certain juices such as cranberry, grape, orange, and tomato juices should also be avoided.

Foods that can stain your teeth – there are certain beverages and foods that can easily stain freshly whitened teeth. These include beets, blueberries, dark chocolate, dark marinades, dark soups, soy sauce, stews, and tomato sauces.

Foods with a high acid content – to minimize the pain and discomfort that accompanies sensitivity, you should avoid eating highly acidic foods. This would include citrus fruits such as grapefruit, lemons, limes, oranges, and pineapple. Additionally, avoid anything containing vinegar as well as pickles and soft drinks.

 

Additional Precautions

If you rinse with a mouthwash containing chlorhexidine, you should avoid using it for a minimum of 48 hours afterwards. Also, if you are a smoker, you should avoid using any tobacco for 12 hours or longer. Keep in mind that these precautions should be followed to keep the possibility of staining and experiencing any sensitivities to a minimum. As always, brush and floss your teeth after every meal in order to maintain good dental hygiene. If you would like more information regarding professional teeth whitening, please feel free to contact Community Dental Group today and speak with one of our caring staff members.