Do
+ Follow all instructions given on how you bleach your teeth (not your gums!)
+ Think of bleaching your teeth like dying your hair; both will eventually need a top up!
+ If you ever see your teeth getting darker when looking through the mirror, it is time to refresh your bleaching. Wear the trays as instructed for 3-7 days and your teeth will be white again.
+ Regular dental checkups and cleanings are important before and after bleaching to maintain a healthy smile!
+ Wear Opalescence 10% gel for 8-10 hours or overnight, Opalescence 15% for 4-6 hours, Opalescence 20% gel for 2-4/ hours, Opalescence 35% gel for 30-60 minutes, and Opalescence Quick 45% gel for 15-30 minutes.
Don't
- Eat with your whitening trays
- Smoke with your whitening trays
- Continue your whitening if you experience temporary discomfort of the gums, lips, throat, or tongue for more than 2 days or progressively get worse. STOP AT ONCE IF IT HAPPENS. These side effects will usually subside within 1-3 days after the whitening has stopped.
- If you have any known sensitivity to flavourings, please let us know. We usually like to give flavouring type of whitening gels to patients (mint or melon). We can provide you with a non-flavouring variant when requested.
- Avoid swallowing large amounts of gel or water used to rinse gel residue from the teeth.
- Avoid contact with eyes.
- Don’t put excessive amounts of bleaching gel in your trays, just a small drop (like a water droplet) of gel per tooth is more than enough. Anymore than that you will start to bleach your gums and that gives you the discomfort and you’ll be wasting the gels.
Notes
A few things to note about whitening
o Crowns, bridges, partial dentures, veneers, and composite fillings will not bleach, whitening only whitens your natural teeth.
o Coffee, tobacco, and other products can re-stain your teeth over time. Should this occur, teeth can be re-whitened.
o Some amalgam fillings may leave a dark purple colour in your bleaching tray; this is normal.
o Teeth are naturally darker along the gum line. These areas may require more time to lighten than the rest of the
o tooth surface and usually remain slightly darker
o For younger people, it takes around 2-3 weeks for your teeth to become as white as possible. For older people, can take up to 6 weeks (typically 3-4 weeks).
Basic timeline of teeth whitening
- We will scan or take a mould of your teeth to make a customised and exact fitting trays for your mouth.
- Before photos will be taken as a reference
- Instructions will be given on how to whiten your teeth with demonstrations.
- We will give you 2 syringes of the whitening gel to start off with. Then will see you in 2 weeks for a catch up and review.
- Please bleach your teeth everyday (i.e., if you’re given Opalescence 10% gel wear it for 8-10 hours overnight)
- On that appointment a further 2 more syringes will be given.
- We’ll then see each other in another 2 weeks to take final photos if needed.
- Further bleaching gels can be purchased from us should you require top ups.