How Should I Prepare for a Teeth Whitening Treatment?

Have you ever looked at someone’s smile and thought that their teeth were especially brilliant? There’s a good chance that it’s because they’ve had some sort of teeth whitening treatment done (or they have veneers, but that’s a topic for another post). If the idea of a brilliantly white smile is appealing to you, getting your teeth professionally whitened is arguably the best way to achieve that. So how should you prepare for a professional whitening treatment?

Have a Pre-Whitening Teeth Cleaning

Your teeth will probably be cleaned a bit at your whitening appointment. To get the best results from your whitening treatment, however, clean healthy teeth are a must. Schedule a pre-whitening teeth cleaning so your teeth will be free of any plaque or tartar that could interfere with the whitening process. Make sure you take especially good care of your teeth leading up to your whitening appointment as well. Brush at least twice a day and floss at least once a day to keep your teeth healthy.

Desensitize Sensitive Teeth

It’s pretty normal for teeth and gums to be a bit sensitive after a whitening treatment. You can combat that by planning ahead and desensitizing your teeth if you have sensitive teeth. Use a desensitizing toothpaste that has potassium nitrate and strontium chloride for at least two weeks leading up to your appointment. These ingredients help block pain signals from the teeth, making it possible to decrease any discomfort you might experience.

Find Your Ideal Shade

As tempting as it may be to go straight to a blinding shade of white, that’s not usually the best way to go about whitening your teeth. Ask your dentist for a shade guide that you can use to compare your teeth’s current shade to the shade you want them to be. Your dentist can also help you determine what shade will provide you with the most beautiful and natural-looking smile.

Properly preparing for a professional teeth whitening treatment will help you get the best results possible. Keep in mind that not all stains can be fixed with whitening treatments though. These treatments are designed to lift surface stains, not to address discoloration due to injuries within the tooth itself. If you have any questions about whether teeth whitening is right for you, talk to your South Temple dentist today.

Are you interested in teeth whitening treatments? Click here to learn more from South Temple Dental today!