Should You Brush Your Teeth After Professional Teeth Whitening?
Once you are done with your professional teeth whitening procedure, you leave the dental office with a dazzlingly white pair of teeth. But what happens next? Can you brush your teeth after getting them professionally whitened? Well, brushing too quickly or incorrectly might actually make your results less reliable or perhaps make you more sensitive.
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Why Should You Wait to Brush After a Teeth Whitening Procedure?
In order to penetrate tooth enamel and remove stains, professional whitening procedures employ hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Your teeth become more sensitive and prone to abrasion just after treatment since this procedure momentarily widens the holes in your enamel.
Brushing too early might irritate exposed dentin, making it more sensitive. It can also:
- Remove the fluoride that your dentist applied
- Disrupt the bleaching process to lessen its effectiveness
The majority of dentists advise delaying brushing for at least half an hour to an hour.
What Happens If You Skip Brushing Entirely?
While waiting is important, avoiding brushing for too long allows:
- Plaque to regenerate on recently whitened teeth
- New food and drink stains to form
- Microorganisms will thrive in the permeable enamel
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The Right Way to Brush After Teeth Whitening
You can use the following tips to brush after teeth whitening:
- Use a Soft-Bristled Toothbrush: Enamel is susceptible to scratches from hard brushes. To prevent abrasion, use an extra-soft brush.
- Choose a Non-Abrasive Toothpaste: Avoid using harsh toothpastes after the procedure. Instead, use fluoride toothpaste, which builds enamel. If your teeth feel sensitive, use a sensitivity formula toothpaste.
- Use Gentle Circular Motion While Brushing: Don’t scrub so hard! Effective cleaning without causing enamel damage is achieved with gentle circles.
- Remember Your Gums: Gum tissue may get irritated by whitening chemicals. To promote circulation without inflaming the gums, gently brush them.
How to Maintain Your Long-term Results?
If you wish to maintain the long-term result of your professional teeth whitening, use the following tips:
Rinse After Consuming Staining Drinks
Make it a habit to rinse right away after drinking tea, coffee, or red wine. This little action helps in removing color molecules before they have a chance to embed themselves in your tooth enamel.
Use a Straw
Use a reusable straw and position it near the back of your mouth while consuming dark liquids. This method reduces the amount of time that staining agents come into contact with your front teeth, which are the most noticeable and susceptible to discoloration.
Get Professional Touch-Ups
For whitening maintenance treatments, stick to the schedule your dentist recommends. Professional booster treatments every 6 to 12 months are beneficial for the majority of patients, depending on their natural tooth color and lifestyle.
Summing Up!
You can brush after a professional tooth whitening procedure, but use the right technique and wait for at least 30 to 60 minutes. After whitening, protecting your enamel guarantees continued brightness without needless sensitivity.
If you have further queries about the procedure, consult our experts at Cloud 9 Dental. Contact us at (818) 986-7411 to book your appointment. We’re only a call away!