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Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

How long will I be in pain after teeth whitening?

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I am planning on getting my teeth whitened but I may chicken out if it is going to hurt too bad. My dentist says that I will be fine but I have some friends who said that bleaching their teeth put a serious hurting on them. So I am anticipating some kind of pain. How long will I be in pain after my teeth are whitened? – Jacque

Jacque – You may not experience any pain at all. Your cosmetic dentist will examine your teeth and ask you questions about the history of sensitivity in your teeth to help determine the level of sensitivity you might experience with bleaching.

If sensitivity is likely to occur, you may be advised to take ibuprofen or some other mild pain reliever before your appointment to alleviate it. It may also be recommended that after your whitening treatment that you take ibuprofen again. Any significant sensitivity, which you are unlikely to experience with proper planning, gradually decreases within 24 hours.

Some dentists use desensitizing gel in advance of teeth whitening treatment. But his depends on the dentist and the type of whitening system that is used.

Speak with your cosmetic dentist about your concerns. He or she will let you know what to expect and how you can plan to get the best results.

This post is sponsored by Lowell cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

 

 

If I whiten my teeth for 4 days straight will I get the same results as I would in 2 weeks?

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I am running out of time to get my teeth really, really white so I thought of an alternative. If I whiten my teeth for 4 days straight will it accelerate the whitening and give me the same results as whitening my teeth overnight for 2 weeks? I will switch out the bleaching gel every 8 to 10 hours. Nikki

Nikki – Whitening your teeth for four days straight will cause extreme sensitivity in your teeth, burning and irritation in your gums, and damage to your tooth enamel.

If you want to quickly whiten your teeth, you can consider getting in-office teeth whitening from a dentist. Otherwise, a cosmetic dentist can provide you with professional-strength bleaching gel for at-home treatment that will give you noticeable results within a few days.

It isn’t worth weakening your teeth to get them super white for a special occasion. Safely whiten your teeth by doing it progressively or by having it done by an experienced cosmetic dentist.

This post is sponsored by Lowell cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Do teeth whitening pens work?

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I got an email from Living Social for teeth whitening pens for under $20. The ad says that the regular price is over $100, so I am guessing that these must work really well. Do they? – Meghan

Meghan – The results you will get from a pen for teeth whitening depend on several factors:

  1. The cause of the stains in your teeth – Depending on the cause of the stains in your teeth, the whitening gel may not whiten them at all. In some cases, it can actually make the stains worse.
  2. The gel – Type of gel and the strength of the gel in the pen determine how white your teeth will get. Some gels will only remove surface stains. If stains are embedded in your teeth, you will see limited results. Additionally, some pens only paint the teeth white. These painting pens contain no ingredients to break down stains in your teeth.
  3. The means of keeping the gel on your teeth – Customized whitening trays keep bleaching gel pressed against your teeth so the gel will penetrate them. Customized trays also protect your gums from irritation or burning by the gel. When you apply bleaching gel with a whitening pen and no trays are used, you will lose some of the gel between your inner lip and teeth. The gel might even irritate your lips and gums. Much of the gel will be lost, so your teeth won’t get as white as with custom trays.
  4. The source of the whitening pen – Some dentists provide whitening pens after professional whitening treatment. These pens are effective in helping you maintain a brilliantly white smile. But they are not used to whiten your teeth from the start. In-office or take-home treatment with professional-strength gel and supervision by the dentist are completed first.

Before you whiten your teeth, we recommend that you ask your dentist to examine them to anticipate the results you will receive and to determine if this is the right treatment to brighten your smile. You can also ask your dentist how he or she can make teeth whitening affordable for you.

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Will oil pulling get my teeth white?

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I heard about oil pulling a year or two ago. I am wondering if this practice really can get my teeth white. Thanks. Dynah

Dynah – Oil pulling has been practiced in southern Asia and India for centuries. It involves placing a tablespoon or so of edible oil in your mouth, swishing the oral around in your mouth and between your teeth.

The concept is that unwanted bacteria in your mouth will cling to the oil, and when you spit out the oil, the bacteria will go with it.

Some studies show that oil pulling may remove bacteria from your mouth, but it’s not a substitute for flossing your teeth daily and brushing them twice a day. And there is no evidence that shows it will whiten your teeth. Even whitening toothpaste won’t remove stains that are embedded in your teeth. If done with incorrect technique, oil pulling can cause stiff jaw muscles, dry mouth, and loss of taste.

If you want to remove stains from your teeth, it’s best to see a dentist to determine the cause of the stains and how the stains can be safely removed without making them more noticeable.

This post is sponsored by Lowell dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Will whitening my teeth make my breath smell better?

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I am wondering if I use whitening strips if my breath will smell better? Is there something in the whitening gel that is good for breath too? Just checking because I have tried everything else. Thanks L.K.

Dear L.K. – Whitening your teeth, in itself, will not make your breath smell better. But if your teeth are whitening by a dentist, he or she will ensure that you have had a recent dental cleaning. If you haven’t, your teeth will need to be cleaned before they are whitened, because the results of the whitening will be much better.

Professional teeth cleaning can remove debris, plaque, and tartar on and between your teeth, all of which contribute to bad breath. In addition to regularly flossing and brushing your teeth, you can also use a tongue scraper, and brush your tongue with a toothbrush and toothpaste.

If your breath odor persists, see a dentist to determine if the source is a bad tooth, your gums, or if further investigation is needed to determine the cause.

This post is sponsored by Lowell dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.