Do’s and Don’ts After Getting A Teeth Whitening Treatment

Teeth whitening isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it type of thing, it’s a constant process of gentle care and cautionary regulation that will eventually lead to the ultimate goal of whiter teeth. That’s why a professional teeth whitening always gives you a list of dos and don’ts for whiter teeth.

Getting treatment is the first step, you also have to do your part at home to keep your teeth pearly white long after the procedure is done. 

In this article, we’ll cover exactly that. Here, we’ll walk you through some of the do’s and don’t after a successful teeth whitening session.

What To Do After Getting A Teeth Whitening Treatment

We’ve already established that there should be things that you should look to do after you get your teeth whitened. What are they, you may ask? Here’s a short list covering exactly what to do after getting a tooth whitening treatment. 

Fluoride Rinsing

A direct whitening session will diminish calcium in your teeth and create microscopic pores on your teeth’s surfaces. While your body will naturally replenish lost calcium after treatment, it is also advisable to do a fluoride rinse twice a day for the next 2 weeks. 

Fluoride mouthwash joins into the tooth structure and helps with the development and recovery of enamel. As an additional bonus, research has shown it also slows down or even refuses the development of cavities before they properly form.

For best results, make sure to read the directions on the label and pay careful attention to the dose, frequency, and amount of time in the mouth. 

Get The Right Products

Aside from getting a fluoride mouthwash, it is highly recommended to get The Smile Bar’s NanoSeal Total+. An add-on to The Smile Bar’s whitening procedure, this liquid solution is applied on your teeth immediately after the whitening procedure to reinforce the enamel and seal the whiteness of your teeth, making your teeth whitening treatment easier, and more efficient than fluoride rinsing – which may strip away much of the enamel around your tooth. 

Maintain Proper Oral Hygiene

White teeth are just one sign of healthy oral hygiene habits. Following the common-sense dental care tips will help, especially brushing your teeth twice a day and seeing your dentist at least twice a year. 

Aside from brushing your teeth, you also have to floss them regularly. These two go together so you can stay away from gum diseases and tooth decay that contribute to teeth discoloration.

The White Shirt Test

Finally, the last do is to perform the white shirt test. If you’re unsure about the amount of discoloration a piece of food can cause, perform the white shirt test. At the most fundamental level, performing this test will tell you whether this will leave a lasting stain on your teeth but performing it may not be as straightforward.

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To perform this test, simply take a piece of food and rub it on a white shirt. If it leaves a stain, then you’ll know it’s effects on your teeth.

Is this the most practical way to test whether this piece of meat will leave a stain on your teeth? Probably not, but it’s also a good reminder for you to always be on the lookout for the food items that you put in your body. If you’re wary and embarrassed by the possibility of having stains on your shirt, then how much more cautious would you be if the stains might show up on your teeth?

As a result, it’s best to avoid any food that would leave visible stains on white clothing for the first 72 hours after your treatment has been completed.

What Not To Do After Getting A Teeth Whitening Treatment

Not everything can be a “do” right? Naturally, there are things that you also shouldn’t be doing after finishing up on your treatment.

Stay away from staining food for 72 hours

Like we said before, a direct whitening session will diminish calcium in your teeth, creating microscopic pores on your teeth’s surface. This will make your teeth vulnerable to discoloration for about 72 hours after the session. With this, it is still essential to avoid the following within the first 3 days after your teeth whitening treatment:

• Dark-colored drinks (coffee, red wine, tea, soda)
• Heavily pigmented foods (chocolates, red meat)
• Acidic foods (vinegar, citrus, soy, tomatoes, chili sauce)
• Smoking

The success of your teeth whitening treatment isn’t the only thing on the line either as sugary foods such as cakes, cookies, and ice cream can trigger decay-causing bacteria and cause possible tooth irritation and staining. 

Don’t use abrasive toothbrushes or toothpaste

Oral hygiene is important but it’s also important that you avoid using toothbrushes with rough and abrasive bristles, such as the Smoothly Green – Soft Bristles brush. 

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Your teeth are extra sensitive in the first 72 hours after the initial teeth whitening treatment so by avoiding abrasive toothbrushes and toothpaste.

On a longer timeframe, rigorous brushing with a hard-bristled toothbrush can wear your enamel away and expose teeth to decay.

Here’s a quick guide for the professional Relative Dentin Abrasivity values:

The best way to avoid excessively abrasive toothpaste is to look for the ADA’s Seal of Acceptance on the packaging of the product. 

The Smile Brush, for example, is ADA- approved with 20,000 ultra-fine bristles that thoroughly clean the teeth’s surface while gently soothing the gums. 

While there’s no one specific way to get the perfect abrasiveness for you, it’s best for you to experiment and try out different levels of abrasiveness in your toothbrushes. If you have any doubts, consult professionals for their recommendations.