Teeth Whitening: What to Know Before Your Appointment

Before teeth whitening, it helps to know three things. Whitening works on natural teeth only, not on crowns or fillings. Surface stains usually respond better than discolouration from within. And your dentist should check your teeth and gums first. Done properly and under supervision, professional whitening is a generally safe, quick way to brighten your smile in one visit.

This guide covers what is worth knowing before you sit in the chair: whether your staining is likely to respond, who should wait, how to prepare, what happens on the day, and how to keep your result looking fresh for longer.

Will whitening work on your staining?

Tooth discolouration falls into two broad groups, and they behave differently.

• Surface (extrinsic) staining builds up on the outer enamel from tea, coffee, cola, tobacco, paan and strongly coloured spices such as haldi. This is the type that usually lightens most readily, which is good news if doodh patti is part of your daily routine.
• Internal (intrinsic) discolouration sits within the tooth. Gradual yellowing with age often improves, but grey tones, white or brown patches, banding from certain medicines taken in childhood, or a single tooth that darkened after a knock tend to respond less predictably.

Whitening also has no effect on crowns, veneers or tooth-coloured fillings. They keep the shade they were made in, so restorations near the front may stand out once the surrounding teeth lighten. Where staining is unlikely to respond, or shape is part of the concern, our comparison of veneers and teeth whitening may help you weigh up the alternatives.

Who should wait before whitening?

Whitening is elective, so there is no harm in postponing it if the timing is not right. It is sensible to wait, or to speak to your dentist first, if you:

• are pregnant or breastfeeding, as whitening is generally postponed until afterwards as a precaution
• have untreated decay, cracked teeth or leaking fillings, which need attention first
• have gum disease, bleeding gums or receding gums with exposed roots
• already have very sensitive teeth, so your dentist can factor that into the plan
• wear fixed braces, since the areas under the brackets would not lighten, and whitening usually makes more sense once your braces treatment is finished

Mention any medical conditions, allergies and medicines at your consultation too. It all helps your dentist plan whitening around your mouth, rather than fitting you into a standard routine.

Why scaling and polishing come first

Plaque, tartar and surface film sit between the whitening gel and your enamel. Clearing them away first lets the gel act evenly across each tooth, instead of leaving patchy areas where deposits were thickest. A clean also gives your dentist a clear view of your gums and any early decay, and reveals your true starting shade.

Scaling and polishing is often booked a short while before whitening, so any gum tenderness from the clean has time to settle. Your dentist will suggest the timing that suits you.

What happens on the day?

The exact steps depend on the system your dentist uses, but a typical appointment for professional teeth whitening follows this pattern:

1. Your dentist confirms your teeth and gums are ready and records your starting shade.
2. Your lips and cheeks are gently held back, and a protective barrier is placed over the gums.
3. The whitening gel is applied carefully to the front surfaces of the teeth.
4. The gel is left for a set time, and may be removed and reapplied in rounds.
5. The gel is cleared away, your new shade is compared with the starting one, and you are given aftercare advice.

Allow roughly an hour, sometimes a little more. Teeth can look slightly chalky straight afterwards, and this usually evens out over the following day or two as they rehydrate.

How sensitivity is managed

Short, sharp twinges during or after whitening are common. They happen because the teeth are temporarily more permeable, and they usually fade within a day or two. To keep them to a minimum:

• use a sensitivity toothpaste for a week or two beforehand if your teeth tend to be sensitive
• tell your dentist straight away if you feel discomfort during treatment, so the timing can be adjusted
• avoid very hot or iced drinks for the first couple of days, which takes some willpower in a Lahore summer but is worth it

If sensitivity is severe or lasts longer than a few days, contact your dentist.

Professional whitening or an at-home kit?

Kits sold online and in shops are tempting because they are convenient, but they have real limitations. Nobody has checked your teeth first, so decay or gum problems can go unnoticed and make the experience far more uncomfortable. One-size trays and strips rarely fit well, so gel can sit on the gums and irritate them while missing the edges of teeth. The strength and origin of some products sold online are also hard to verify.

With a supervised treatment, your gum line is shielded, the gel goes only where it is needed, and treatment can be paused or adjusted if your teeth react. You can see the current rate on our live price list before you book.

The first 48 hours and keeping your results

For the first 48 hours, your teeth take up colour more easily than usual, so stick to pale, mild food and drink where you can. It helps to avoid:

• tea, coffee, cola and dark fruit juices
• curries and sauces rich in haldi, chilli or tomato, as well as soy sauce and beetroot
• paan, tobacco and smoking
• coloured toothpaste or mouthwash

After that, results last longest with steady habits rather than strict rules. Rinse with water after tea or coffee, brush twice a day, clean between your teeth, and keep up regular scaling and polishing appointments. How long a result lasts varies from person to person, and your dentist can tell you when a top-up makes sense for your habits.

If you are planning to replace old fillings or crowns at the front, do it after whitening rather than before. That way, the new restorations can be matched to your brighter shade instead of the old one.

If you are thinking about brightening your smile, start with a check-up rather than a kit. Your first dental consultation is complimentary, so book a visit to our studio in DHA Phase 6, Lahore and we will examine your teeth, tell you honestly what whitening can achieve for you and plan the next steps together.

This article is general information, not a diagnosis or a substitute for a personal consultation. Every face, smile and scalp is different — your practitioner will advise on what is right for you.