It is relatively common knowledge that people need water to live. There are many benefits to staying hydrated, and being dehydrated can cause many unwanted problems. After all, the adult human body is composed of about 65 per cent water. Water is crucial to other organs to stay hydrated, but it is also essential to keep teeth hydrated. After the whitening process, it is important to understand how to rehydrate those pearly-whites correctly.
With the right information and proper prior planning, teeth can retain the bleached look for longer and remain healthier. You can keep your newly whitened teeth looking bright and your mouth healthy.
What Causes Dehydration after Teeth Whitening?
Much like sponges, teeth are porous, which means that during the whitening process, they allow whitening agents to go through the top layers and, in turn, brighten the teeth. The very thing that causes the teeth to whiten also allows fluid to leave the teeth, resulting in tooth dehydration. If teeth are not rehydrated properly, the dehydration caused by whitening can lead to high tooth sensitivity and pain.
As the light from the procedure irradiates the tooth, darker coloured bits soak up the light instead of reflecting it. This transfers the heat into energy, which causes the tooth’s internal temperature to rise. This process makes newly whitened teeth look whiter after bleaching, but as they begin to rehydrate, the colour starts to fade back to a darker shade. This means that the whitened state from bleaching may just be an effect of dehydration instead of actual whitening effects.
Further, as the fluid moves out of the tooth, whitening agents can force the water to travel away from and out of the tooth. This means that the use of light or heat may actually contribute to whitening procedures being ineffective. Overheating the tooth will inevitably cause more dental problems overall.
How to Hydrate Your Teeth After Whitening
Contrary to popular belief, drinking extra water will not actually rehydrate your teeth any faster after a whitening procedure. This can cause the teeth to become dehydrated more because the water is sloshing against them. Though drinking water is always a good idea, there is a much simpler solution to tooth dehydration after whitening.
The best thing for rehydrating teeth is saliva. A person’s saliva is filled with minerals that give the tooth enamel the ability to resurface and restore itself to a more natural colour. Keeping the mouth moist and filled with spit will allow the teeth to rejuvenate at a faster pace. The best thing to do is avoid smoking, vigorous exercise, and anything else that will cause the mouth to dry out after having teeth bleached.