We have found that these quicker whitening gels deliver nearly the same results but with the convenience ANYONE can take advantage of.

Safer and faster – Controlled dosage and custom-made trays protect teeth and gums, lowering sensitivity and improving results. Higher concentrations are available in the dental office for faster results. Over-the-counter bleaching products have to be weaker in case a patient applies the gel to an undiagnosed cavity.

Crest Whitening Strips are available over the counter at a lower percentage and with fewer strips in each box. The Supreme kit available in the dental office is three times as strong and contains 84 strips – allowing for a brighter smile more quickly leaving more strips to save for touch-ups or to share with friends or family!

With smokers we recommend cessation for the whole time you are bleaching – to avoid an increase in oral cancer associated with smoking and free radical oxygen. We also recommend pregnant women avoid whitening. To make the results last longer, permanent smoking cessation is even better. We love when patients use whitening as an incentive to quit smoking all together!

A few patients report having some sensitivity that resolves within a few minutes to a day or two. Avoid tartar control toothpaste when bleaching, due to an increase in sensitivity. We also recommend to our patients with sensitive teeth to use Sensodyne Toothpaste or have a fluoride treatment just before bleaching teeth and have found great results.

Touch-up: You can touch-up the bleaching with a few days of the whitening pen from your Sinsational kit, using Crest strips or the tray gels whenever you choose, most often prior to special event or reunion. Some patients prefer to whiten after each dental cleaning to keep their smile their brightest. Some people who consume lots of coffee may want to whiten every 3 months or so.

Avoid staining foods, drinks, and smoking – foods and drinks that stain your clothes, will stain your teeth. Drinks like cranberry juice, coffee,
tea, red wine, grape juice, and foods with tomato sauce, yellow curry or blueberries.

Whitening toothpaste – to help keep stains from setting in the first place, use a whitening toothpaste such as Sensodyne Whitening, Crest HD Whitening toothpaste each day. Using a whitening floss (Johnson and Johnson) helps remove stains from between your teeth.

Regularly scheduled cleanings at the dental office are a great way to remove the stains and the tartar to allow those pearly whites to shine!

 

If you have more questions about Teeth Whitening, call your Los Gatos Dentist today!