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Teeth whitening is one of the most common dental treatments, resulting in a more transparent, healthy smile that can improve self-confidence. Unfortunately, this is not an eternal practice which can easily be changed due to habits such as smoking and food decisions.
The reversal of teeth whitening may be an uncomfortable process since it is a time consuming and costly operation. It is also advisable to follow safe behaviours to maintain the benefits of the treatment.
What are the possible risks of the teeth whitening procedure?
Teeth are the most complicated structure of the human being. They comprise several layers, the enamel surface being the toughest and the outermost layer conveying the dentin layer.
An individual senses the tooth’s sensitivity when exposed to dentin due to mechanical damage or chemical degradation of the enamel. Below are several side effects that can occur post-tooth whitening:
Dentin Layer Exposures: Hydrogen Peroxide is the main ingredient used during the tooth whitening procedure, but this chemical can contribute to temporary dentin exposures.When dentin is exposed, it may contribute to the teeth’ vulnerability and increase discolouration risk.
Gum irritation-Gum irritation is one of the typical side effects of a tooth whitening treatment. Since the operation does not lead to irreversible damage to the gums, it is recommended to treat the gums carefully after the procedure.
What are the different causes that can cause teeth discolouration?
Any foods contain many compounds responsible for dental discolouration, including acids, chromogens and acidity. This component can quickly induce the enamel’s staining, or they can leave the enamel brittle, which makes it possible for these components to settle on the tooth surface.
It is also recommended to refrain from food containing these ingredients for a minimum of 2 days post-whitening.
Five composite experiments have been performed to explain the effect of pre, post and tooth whitening on the form of food eaten.
Reports were examined, and it was confirmed that patients who did not adopt a white diet before the whitening of the teeth observed a noticeable difference of colour. These research have concluded that the consumption of foods and liquids not labelled as white did not impact the teeth’ whitening mechanism.
However, these findings have demonstrated that if the white diet is not eaten after the tooth whitening operation, there is a high chance of restoring the process due to the teeth’ discolouration.
One clinical trial was performed to determine the impact of cola-based liquids on teeth following dental bleaching. The findings showed that, while the intake of cola-based beverages did not affect the whitening procedure, the threshold for bleaching caused tooth sensitivity was found to a greater degree.
What foods and beverages can be avoided after a tooth whitening process?
While limited to white diet is the best solution to post-whitening; however, some types of foods should be prevented. As a rule of thumb, it is best to refrain from foods that may stain a white shirt.
Here is a list of those foods that should be avoided explicitly by post-whitening.
- Foods that are dark in colour:
Some foods such as beetroot, blueberries, dark chocolates and other dark-coloured sauces can be eliminated entirely and replaced with white sauces. Also, if it is occasionally inevitable to consume dark-coloured liquids, it is easier to eat a lot more green leafy vegetables such as lettuce, kale or broccoli. When eaten in raw form, these vegetables have the ability to remove staining caused by the ingestion of dark-coloured foods.
- Dark-coloured liquids:
Drinks such as coffee and tea are filled with caffeine, contributing to teeth stains. Also, red wine can be avoided by post-whitening.
- Foods and beverages of an acidic sort:
Even though fruit is known to be one of the healthiest alternatives, but acidic fruits such as grapes, oranges, cranberries have a particularly low pH content, which increases the acidic nature of saliva until eaten. Highly acidic saliva has the ability to damage further the enamel that has recently been damaged by the teeth whitening process.
- Vinegar, widely used as a salad seasoning, should be avoided due to its highly acidic composition. But if it is inevitable to eat certain foods, the better trick will be to consume raw vegetables such as lettuce soon after they have been eaten to nullify the adverse effect.
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Perhaps one of the most important ways to cope with teeth whitening care and treatment is to have your teeth tested regularly by a dentist. Seeing a dentist is not something you should be scared of or embarrassed about. It’s a crucial part of ensuring that the white teeth grin you love now remains that way for a long time.
When you want to schedule your next dental appointment, don’t delay— call our Dentists Ottawa today.
