How long after whitening strips can i drink coffee

When you smile for a selfie, do you see a mouthful of less-than-pearly whites? If so, you may have considered tooth whitening and been put off by the many different options, prices, and possible side effects. “People get nervous about whitening, but it’s really very safe,” says Brian Kantor, DDS, a cosmetic dentist with Lowenberg, Lituchy and Kantor in Manhattan. “And you don’t have to be a celebrity to want whiter, healthier-looking teeth.”

We talked to dentists across the country about the top tooth-whitening myths they hear in their practices—and the truth about how to restore a selfie-ready smile.Myth 1: Whitening toothpaste is a budget-friendly option.Get A Free Trial of Prevention + 12 Free Gifts

Yes, it’s dirt-cheap compared to an in-office treatment and even trays and strips, but only if your idea of whitening is a thorough cleaning. “Whitening toothpastes work by removing surface stains such as from cigarette smoking, coffee, and tea—but they won’t change the intrinsic color of your teeth,” explains Cari Callaway-Nelson, DDS, a Smile Generation-affiliated dentist in Las Vegas. What’s more, because they use abrasive ingredients to scrub off the stains, they can wear away at the “pellicle,” or protective layer that naturally forms over your teeth, making your teeth sensitive and possibly more prone to staining down the line. It’s okay to use whitening toothpaste occasionally, but don’t park it permanently on your bathroom vanity for everyday use. ()

Myth 2: Only the pricey treatment at your dentist’s office actually works.

It’s true that in-office tooth-whitening gets faster results than trays, strips, or pens, and that’s for two reasons: One, dentists can use more powerful bleach—35% hydrogen peroxide vs. 7 to 10% in over-the-counter products, according to Kantor—and two, the bleach stays in isolated contact with your teeth longer, typically for about an hour. That’s also why at-home whitening kits from your dentist—along with a tray that’s custom-made to fit your teeth—will work better than kits you buy at the drugstore: The bleaching solution is more potent and the trays will fit your teeth exactly. But drugstore whiteners—including whitening strips—will lighten your teeth, even if they take weeks or months. And they can be a good way to maintain results you got at your dentist’s office (just check the expiration dates, as they may have been sitting on the shelf a while).

MORE: 7 Weird Things Your Teeth Are Trying To Tell YouMyth 3: If you have sensitive teeth, you should skip tooth whitening.Myth 4: Tooth whitening harms enamel. There’s a misconception that whitening works by chemically melting off or laser-zapping the outer layer of enamel. Not true. “Bleaching works by opening the pores of the teeth and allowing a cleaning agent, specifically peroxide, to get into the inner structure and clean it of stains,” explains Schwartz. “Over time, the pores close again.”

You don’t have to! But you might consider using custom bleaching trays at home instead of getting a power whitening at your dentist’s office. “People with sensitive teeth should be a little wary about in-office or laser bleaching,” says Jonathan Schwartz, DDS, a family and cosmetic dentist at Manhattan Dental Health. “Having the custom trays instead gives great results in as little as 2 weeks and allows a patient more control if there’s sensitivity.” Also try brushing with a toothpaste for sensitive teeth, such as Sensodyne, starting 2 weeks before you begin whitening treatment, to reduce sensitivity.Myth 5: The laser used in tooth whitening is dangerous.

It’s not really a laser. It’s a UV or LED light that activates the bleaching products and helps them penetrate the teeth. “It’s why in about an hour and a half at the dentist’s office, you can see results that are as good as 2 weeks of traditional tray bleaching,” Schwartz says. The battery-powered LED tool that comes with some over-the-counter whitening kits works in a similar way, and preliminary studies show that visible blue light spectrum tools may boost the whitening action.

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Myth 6: You can never drink coffee or wine again. If that were true, no one would do it! Dentists do recommend avoiding “heavily staining” and acidic foods and drinks such as red wine, coffee, tea, soda, orange juice, cranberry juice, soy sauce, and chocolate for the first few days after a whitening treatment. “Bleach really opens up the tubules in your enamel and the chemical reaction continues working for few days,” Kantor explains. “Anything that could stain a white T-shirt can also stain your teeth.” If you must have your daily cup of joe, Kantor recommends adding a lot of milk and drinking through a straw to minimize contact with your teeth.Myth 7: Tooth whitening works for everyone. Everyone’s teeth darken with age—not just from coffee and wine, but also because over time, the outer layer of white enamel wears thinner, allowing the yellowish inner layer, or dentin, to show through. That said, some people’s teeth tend to yellow while others get more gray. “Whitening products work best on yellow and some brown stains,” says Scott Keys, DDS, a Smile Generation-affiliated dentist in New Braunfels, TX. “They will generally not improve grayish color,” which may come from smoking, taking the antibiotic tetracycline, or fluorosis (ingestion of too much fluoride). There’s also individual variation in how well teeth respond to treatment. Your dentist should be able to predict whether bleaching will deliver the results you’re looking for. As a general rule, anyone with gum disease, broken or damaged teeth, restorations, exposed roots, or incomplete dental work should not attempt a whitening process until those problems are remedied.Myth 8: Tooth whitening will make your teeth blindingly white and fake-looking. Don’t worry about glowing in the dark anytime soon. “Teeth are inherently yellow, and the color comes from within,” says Callaway-Nelson. “Even if you achieve the maximum whiteness that’s possible for you—and everyone’s whitening potential is different—your teeth will never be as white as Ross’s on that episode of Friends.” And when you see actors on TV and in magazines with sparkly white choppers, rest assured that it’s either Photoshop or porcelain veneers.

MORE: 10 Amazing Beauty Tricks With Coconut OilMyth 9: You can whiten crowns and fillings. Sadly, no. Fillings, crowns, and veneers, which stain at the margins and dull over time, resist whitening, says Callaway-Nelson, though permanent porcelain crowns are color fast. Which is why your dentist might recommend a whitening treatment before you get a crown or veneer. Otherwise, “whitening your teeth may result in a greater discrepancy between the color of your natural teeth and your restored teeth,” she says. If you whiten ahead of time, however, you can then match the veneer to the new, whiter, brighter shade of your teeth.Myth 10: Bleaching lasts forever. Actually it lasts more like 2 years, but the whiteness begins to fade after about 2 to 3 months. “It’s like getting your hair dyed,” says Kantor. “It requires maintenance.” Most dentists recommend touching up the whitening with at-home trays every 6 months. And if you’re a heavy coffee, cola, or tea drinker or if you’re a smoker, the luster will wear off sooner.

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