Tooth whitening tips

"This article originally appeared in the Wanaka Dental Tooth-care Journal"

We love teeth whitening at Remarkables Dental, it's an easy way to give a refresh to your smile.

Our favourite treatment is the combination approach, in-office teeth whitening plus custom made take-home trays for maintenance.

Many people look online or in magazines and mistake teeth whitening for someone who has had porcelain veneers on all their visible teeth. Realistically one hour of teeth whitening will give a noticeable but natural result. However, if the Hollywood super white look is what you are looking for we can help you get there! This would require more home whitening using the custom made whitening trays which we can fabricate for you, or veneers with the dentist.

We will always perform a free consultation to check you are suitable for teeth whitening, set realistic expectations, give you tailored advice for the type of tooth whitening procedure, and give you pre-tooth whitening instructions. 

In general it is advised to use a sensitive toothpaste or tooth mousse (a dentist-only product, which can be purchased in clinic) for two weeks prior to teeth whitening.

Make sure to get your last coffee in the morning of your visit and there will be no coffee for 48 hours after teeth whitening! It is imperative that after your in clinic tooth whitening session you stick to a 'white or beige' coloured diet for 48 hours to get the best results. Avoid acidic foods during this period to reduce tooth sensitivity also. 

Some examples of foods and drinks to avoid:

• Tea (including green and herbal)

• Coffee

• Red wine

• Curry

• Tomatoes

• Green or any other coloured fruits and vegetables

• Citrus, lemon water

Some examples of safe foods and meal ideas (not all the healthiest but it's worth it to maintain that sparkling smile):

• Banana smoothie

• Oats

• Toast with honey  

• Leek and potato soup

• Fish and chips (hold the tomato sauce)

• Pasta Carbonara

• Cauliflower, potato, parsnip, chicken and rice

Frequently asked questions

• Does teeth whitening toothpaste work?

  Teeth whitening toothpaste works by using mild abrasives to scrub away the surface or (extrinsic) stains. Some contain hydrogen peroxide which when used in bleaching trays can whiten internal (intrinsic) stains, however the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in whitening toothpastes is low and is not in contact with the teeth long enough to make a noticeable difference.

• Do teeth whitening strips work?

  In short, yes teeth whitening stripes work, because of the lower percentage of hydrogen peroxide this method of teeth whitening takes longer than in-chair whitening and custom whitening trays. The teeth whitening stripes can cause gum irritation if they come into contact with the gums .

• Are teeth whitening strips safe?

  Yes they are safe to use. Make sure not to sleep in them and apply them so they are not in contact with your gums.

• Tips on how to get whiter teeth?

  In Chair teeth whitening and custom whitening trays of course. Having regular hygiene cleanings. Avoiding red wine and coffee or rinsing with water after having food and drink with highly coloured pigments.

• Which teeth whitening is best?

  A combination of in office teeth whitening with custom trays for home use is the best way to achieve and maintain white teeth.

• Does teeth whitening last long?

  In office teeth whitening will last forever as long as you are doing regular maintenance with your custom whitening trays. If you do no maintenance, depending on how many staining food and drinks you consume whitening will last 6-12 months.