Hello there,

I got my teeth whitened in my dentist’s office. I was given Opalescence whitening trays to take home to touch them up. I’m planning to get crowns at some point, so I want to bleach my teeth properly. How long do I need to bleach? A few hours every day, or a few times a week? Should I stop bleaching several days before my dental appointment? Any input you could give me would be very appreciated, I’m a bit confused about everything.

Kate Zimmerman, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Hi Kate,

Your dentist should have given you some instructions with the take-home kit. To answer your questions, the more you whiten, the whiter your teeth will be. It doesn’t matter what time you whiten your teeth, but if you get sensitivity from the bleaching trays, you should do it at night. You should leave the bleaching trays in for at least 20-30 minutes, but the longer, the better. If you leave them overnight, your saliva production rate slows down, so nighttime use may be more effective, as the gel will stay in the tray longer.

You do not need to use trays specifically for nighttime use, as they contain excessive amounts of peroxide. The more you whiten, your teeth will continue to change color, but the pace at which your teeth whiten will slow down. You should stop whitening when you reach the color you want. However, depending on how much you red wine, coffee, soda, or tobacco products you consume, your teeth will dull in color. If this happens, you can use your touch-up trays a few hours a day once or twice a year.

Be sure to get your crowns done by a cosmetic dentist with a lot of experience and continuing education in cosmetic dentistry. Your dentist should be able to answer your questions clearly and concisely prior to getting your work done. If you have any doubts, be sure to get a second opinion.

This blog post is brought to you by Baton Rouge Family Dentist, Dr. Ryan Perry.