Protecting Our Kids' Smiles

If you have an important event coming up, you'll want to ensure that you look your best. Whatever the occasion, your smile is one of your most important assets. If time is limited, it is possible to have your teeth cleaned and whitened in one dental appointment. However, this option is not available to everyone. It all depends on the condition of your oral health.

In-Office Whitening Better on Clean Teeth

To obtain optimal results with in-office whitening, your teeth should be free of plaque or tartar. The whitening gel used in the whitening procedure needs to penetrate tooth enamel in order to reach the underlying staining molecules. The presence of plaque or tartar will diminish the effectiveness of the whitening gel.

Therefore, dentists recommend that you have a dental cleaning at least 6 months prior to whitening.

It is Possible to Clean and Whiten in One Visit

Provided your teeth and gums are healthy, you can arrange to have both the dental cleaning and whitening done the same day. However, during a dental cleaning, hygienists sometimes discover gingivitis or cavities. In regards to cavities, the whitening gel may cause severe pain and discomfort. It may also penetrate the cavity and irritate the nerve.

Therefore, any cavities should be dealt with before whitening. Similarly, if the dental cleaning reveals the presence of gingivitis, or mild gum disease, whitening on the same day is not recommended. The whitening gel will irritate your already inflamed gums. Healthy teeth and gums, however, can be cleaned and whitened on the same day.

Sensitivity Could Be an Issue

Even if your mouth is healthy enough to do both treatments on the same day, sensitivity could be an issue. It is normal for teeth to be more sensitive than usual after a dental cleaning. If time permits, give your teeth one week to stabilize before having in-office whitening done. However, if you are short on time, there are two things you can do to reduce the sensitivity.

A week or two before your dental appointment, brush your teeth with a toothpaste designed to combat sensitivity. Continue brushing with this toothpaste after the whitening treatment. On the day of the cleaning and whitening, take some Ibuprofen. This will help reduce pain and sensitivity whilst the whitening is carried out.

Lastly, be sure to inform your hygienist of your plans to whiten your teeth on the same day. That way, they can use a whitening-friendly paste when polishing your teeth.