Berks County Pa. Dentist

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After Teeth Whitening

You may experience some tooth sensitivity during the next 24 hours. If you have any sensitivity symptoms, you may take over the counter pain medications such as Motrin or Advil. Sensitivity toothpaste such as Sensodyne may also help eliminate some of the sensitivity sensations, you can also use ACP Relief gel in your bleaching trays to provide relief.

For The Next 48 Hours, Avoid ANY Dark Substances Including:

  • Coffee and/or tea
  • Red wine and colored soda
  • Lipstick
  • Smoking and tobacco products
  • Soy sauce
  • Toothpaste with color
  • Mustard or ketchup
  • Berries
  • Red sauces (such as A-1, spaghetti sauce)

Substances That May Be Consumed Are:

  • Milk, water, clear soda
  • Bananas, apples (no peel)
  • White bread, flour tortillas
  • Oatmeal, cream of wheat
  • White rice, baked potato
  • Plain pasta and white sauce
  • Turkey, chicken breast (no skin), white fish
  • Plain yogurt, white cheese, sour cream, cottage cheese

Additional Ways To Maintain Your Sparkling Zoom Smile

  • Avoid staining-related habits: smoking, coffee/tea/wine drinking (or use a straw!)
  • Use an electric toothbrush
  • Seek regular professional dental hygiene care to maintain oral health
  • Continue to practice good oral hygiene including thorough tooth brushing, flossing to remove debris from between the teeth, and tongue cleaning. Your dental professional will assist you in selecting the products to maintain not only a white smile, but a healthy one as well.

To Use Your Home Whitening Kit

  • Wait at least 7 days after your Zoom! session to use the home bleaching trays
  • Use the bleaching trays as frequently or infrequently as you’d like: every year for a touch up or every week to brighten your results.
  • After cleaning your teeth thoroughly, apply a small amount of whitening gel into the bleaching tray, towards the outer tooth surface.
  • Insert tray and leave it in for 2 hours, less time if you experience sensitivity.
  • Remove trays and excess bleach and clean bleach from the trays.
  • Keep trays dry in the container until they are used next.
  • Additional bleach can be purchased, please contact us if you need more!

After Crown & Bridge Appointments

After your first appointment for a crown or bridge, you will have a temporary. This temporary is made of a plastic material and while it is on, you should avoid very hard and very sticky foods (ice, nuts, taffy). When flossing, pull the floss through after bringing it between teeth instead of snapping it out again to avoid pulling the temporary off.

If the temporary comes off, please call the office. If it is not possible for you to return to the office, it may be possible for you to put it back on yourself. Temporary dental cements are available at most pharmacies. Clean off as much of the cement as possible from your tooth and the temporary, dry off the tooth with gauze or a tissue, load the temporary with cement, put it on the tooth and bite down. Hold for a minute and clean as much of the cement as possible.

It is normal for your tooth and gums to be sore for a day or two. If you have intense pain, please let us know.

Be careful since you will be numb after your appointment, be careful not to bite your cheek, lips, or tongue when eating. You may dribble when drinking while numb.

When You Are Numb

Be careful since you will be numb after your appointment, be careful not to bite your cheek, lips, or tongue when eating. You may dribble when drinking while numb.

Your numbness should wear off within 2 hours of your appointment.

Denture Care

Daily Care
  • Food particles and plaque must be removed from your dentures daily. This prevents gum irritation and keeps breath fresh. Remove your dentures at night to allow your gums to rest.
  • Brush your dentures thoroughly with a denture brush. This is the most important cleaning step. Do not use toothpaste to brush your denture, since the abrasives can scratch the prostheses.
  • You may choose to use a denture cleanser (Efferdent, Polident) as an overnight soak or to help freshen your dentures. Use cleansers as often as every day.
  • When not in your mouth, keep your dentures in water (or water with cleanser), and change the water daily. If dentures are allowed to dry out, they may warp and not fit.
  • Rinse your dentures thoroughly before putting them in your mouth.
    You should brush your tongue with a tongue scraper or toothbrush.

Adhesives:

Adhesives should be used to improve the stability of dentures and to minimize food underneath dentures. Adhesives should not be used to improve fit of old, ill-fitting dentures. Prolonged use of large amounts of denture adhesive is not recommended.

Use three or four pea-sized dots of adhesive, or a thin line of equal size, on each denture. Remove adhesive daily from both denture and gums. A dry gauze on dried gums works best for adhesive removal.

Avoid:

  • Cleaning dentures while they are in your mouth.
  • Cleaning dentures with bleach, it will damage your dentures.
  • Extremely hot or boiling water, it may deform your dentures.

Please plan on returning for denture checks yearly, we will inspect your dentures and mouth for any changes or wear and make sure things are still working as they should be. Your gums and bone will shrink over time, so you can expect dentures to fit well for 5-10 years.