Trying to figure out how much time I should set aside for a pro whitening session. I’ve seen everything from “just an hour” to “multiple visits” online, which is kinda confusing. If you’ve done it before, did you have to sit in the chair forever? Was it like a one-and-done thing or did you go back a couple times? Would love to hear how it went for you—especially if you’ve got a busy schedule like me.
We did a whitening session for my teenager last year, and honestly, it took less time than I expected—maybe 90 minutes total, including all the prep. But here’s the thing: the dentist warned us that sometimes you need a follow-up if you want a super-bright result, especially if your teeth are naturally more yellow. Did your dentist mention anything about sensitivity or needing to avoid certain foods afterward? That was the trickiest part for us, since my kid basically lives on spaghetti sauce...
Did your dentist mention anything about sensitivity or needing to avoid certain foods afterward? That was the trickiest part for us, since my kid basically lives on spaghetti sauce...
Yeah, the sensitivity part hit us too. My daughter complained her teeth felt “zingy” for a couple days after. We were told to avoid anything super hot/cold and definitely to skip stuff like tomato sauce, coffee, or soda for at least 48 hours. Not easy when you’ve got a pasta lover at home, trust me. She tried switching to butter noodles just to play it safe. It was a rough two days—she missed her red sauce more than I expected.
The dentist said the whitening makes your teeth more porous right after, so anything with strong color (spaghetti sauce, curry, berries) can stain them pretty quick. We stuck with pale foods—chicken, rice, yogurt—and lots of water. Not the most exciting menu but it worked.
As for cost, we only did one session because I didn’t want to pay for a follow-up unless she really needed it. Her teeth weren’t movie-star white but she was happy enough. The dentist said we could always do another session later if she wanted.
Honestly, if you’re watching your budget and your kid’s not too picky about shade, one session might be enough. Just be ready for some food drama right after…
The dentist said the whitening makes your teeth more porous right after, so anything with strong color (spaghetti sauce, curry, berries) can stain them pretty quick.
That’s exactly what I was told too, and honestly, I didn’t realize how tough it’d be to avoid colorful foods. I caved and had coffee the next morning—regretted it immediately, little bit of sensitivity kicked in. The “zingy” feeling is real. One session was enough for me as well, not perfect but a noticeable difference. Curious if anyone’s dentist mentioned using a straw for drinks to help with staining? Mine was big on that tip.
I caved and had coffee the next morning—regretted it immediately, little bit of sensitivity kicked in. The “zingy” feeling is real.
Straws were my dentist’s obsession too—felt like I was sipping everything like a kid for a week. I got the “zing” after cold water, not even coffee. Honestly, the food restrictions were harder than the actual whitening session for me.
