Whitening Instructions

Read the directions that come with the bleaching product. Below are a few very important additional general guidelines to follow when you whitening your teeth.

• DO NOT EVER sleep with bleach on your teeth. This can permanently damage your teeth, making them dry, brittle and very sensitive.
• DO NOT EVER allow the bleach to make contact with your gum tissue. If you feel it burning your gums do whatever it takes to keep the bleach off your gum tissue. The bleach will cause your gum tissue to recede and it will not grow back.
• Do not bleach your teeth excessively. A good rule of thumb is to avoid making your teeth whiter than the white part of your eyes because it will look unnatural.
• If you experience increased tooth sensitivity or any other tooth or gum tissue discomfort, discontinue using the bleaching product and do not use it again until your teeth feel completely normal again.
• Store any unopened tubes of bleach in the box in the refrigerator because it helps the product maintain its strength.
• And finally, use your common sense – if it hurts – don’t do it! We want you to keep your beautiful teeth for a life time.

General directions for safe use of gel whitening products:

Remember, each product has special instructions so please read and follow the directions that came with the whitening product. The notes below contain tips on how to use the product sparingly and some general instructions for the product purchased at our office. Above all else, please use common sense; bleaching products can be harmful if misused.

1. Using dress retainers, Invisalign aligners or any other full-coverage, clear retainer type of appliance; place a very small amount of bleach into the deepest part of the tray.
2. Using the tip of the syringe spread the bleach so that it is evenly distributed from one side to the other then place the appliances in your mouth. There is no need to waste any of your bleach on the teeth that do not show when you smile.
3. If at all possible, do not swallow the bleach as it foams up and begins to seep out of the tray. Spit the excess in the sink and continue wiping the bleach off of your gums with a damp washcloth, your damp finger or Q-tip to prevent permanent damage to your gums.
4. If you become thirsty while bleaching, keep a glass of water with a straw ready and try to drink through the straw to avoid swallowing the bleach.

Once your teeth have reached the desired shade you will probably only need to use your   whitening product about once a week to maintain the result.