Tooth Whitening Instructions

How to effectively whiten your teeth

1. Before bleaching, your teeth should be cleaned thoroughly. It is preferable to use toothpaste for sensitive teeth if possible (Colgate ProRelief). The bleaching gel should be applied sparingly.
2. Less is more. Apply a small dot of bleach only to cheek side of the inside of the tray and do not overfill as you will not increase the speed of action by overloading tray. Overfilling can contribute to tooth sensitivity. Only apply bleach to the teeth that will be visible when you smile, again to conserve material.
3. It is usually best to put trays in before you go to bed so that you can get used to them. When you put in trays remove any excess gel that flows out with tissue or a finger.
4. Once trays are in correctly it is best to leave them in overnight or 3-4 hours per day. The active ingredient works for at least 4 hours so it is worth keeping them in.
5. You may experience some sensitivity during bleaching. This is always a temporary event; however, there are several things that can be done to reduce it.
6. Apply Colgate ProRelief toothpaste into the tray and seat tray in mouth for half an hour before bleaching. This calms nerves down and is usually enough. If this is inadequate you may leave Colgate ProRelief in the tray overnight until the problem resolves and use simple painkillers like paracetamol if necessary. You may continue to bleach if teeth are sensitive, however.
7. When you are happy with the colour you have achieved, the trick then, is to continue to bleach for a few more nights. This will “over-bleach” your teeth by a shade, but as your colour settles in, they will stay the colour you wanted. Teeth usually look most natural if they match the colour of the whites of the eyes so use this as a guide. The average time needed of bleaching is 1-2 weeks of nightly wear, some may be considerably faster and some slower. (a minimum of 7 days of bleaching is needed, maximum, until you are happy with the colour). If you do run out of bleach you may purchase refills.
8. The trays are very important as they minimize the amount of bleach needed. Keep trays safely in box when not in use and do not allow to get near hot water. Always wash with toothpaste and water. If plaque is building up on trays they may be left in Milton for an hour.
9. Tooth Bleaching can vary in the time taken to achieve adequate results. This depends on several factors such as the thickness of enamel, concentration of bleach, types of stains present etc. Rarely, some teeth may require many months to achieve adequate results. Home bleaching will work adequately in approximately 90% of cases, however it should be borne in mind that whitening will not make teeth paper white. The only way to achieve that is to place porcelain veneers on the teeth. This is a much more invasive and costly procedure, however it can still be done after whitening and is indeed made easier if teeth are whiter first.
10. You should maintain the colour of your teeth by topping up the whitening, using your home kit, every 4-6 months. 3-4 nights at a time. The Zoom laser whitening can be done once a year, if needed.
11. A white diet is essential during all whitening periods.