Getting pearly white teeth is the ultimate dream for many people. There are many options that you can opt for in your quest for that bright Hollywood smile makeover, including the use of gels, whitening toothpaste, trays, and so forth.
Professional teeth whitening is a preferred option for those wishing to get whiter teeth quickly. However, whitening your teeth comes with various considerations, one being that you may experience dehydration.
Can teeth get dehydrated? If yes, then what is teeth dehydration? Why and how can you get it? How do you resolve it?
Get all the answers to these and many other questions in our comprehensive guide.
What Is Teeth Dehydration?
Our teeth are made up of several protective layers. Each of these layers has the function of protecting the fragile internal nerve center of the tooth. Teeth also have tiny pores under the first protective layer.
When left exposed, the pores are why stains can settle deep into the mouth. It is also through these pores that teeth whitening is possible.
At times, these pores may allow moisture to leave the inner parts of the tooth. This results in what is known as ‘teeth dehydration.’
Why Do Your Teeth Get Dehydrated?
The dentist uses a teeth whitening gel powerful enough to get rid of deep-settled stains. In most cases, dentists use either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to get rid of the stains. These are strong bleaching agents capable of removing deep stains within no time.
Laser teeth whitening is also another popular method to whiten teeth. Still, this one also opens up the pores to eliminate the deep stains.
Teeth have pores beneath the first protective layer of your tooth. These whitening products move through these pores to break down the stains, which get taken out through the enlarged pores. This process raises the internal temperature of the teeth, resulting in moisture loss.
When that happens, the teeth get exposed to dehydration, among other vulnerabilities, including tooth sensitivity.
Why Do Your Teeth Get Dehydrated?
Generally, your teeth get dehydrated when an activity raises the mouth’s internal temperature and pushes out moisture through the tooth’s pores. There are many ways this happens, including after a teeth whitening procedure.
However, there are also other reasons that can make your teeth dehydrated. These include:
Dry mouth
Saliva is a crucial factor that keeps your teeth hydrated. However, if your mouth becomes dry, your teeth may naturally become dry, causing teeth dehydration.
But what does the lack of saliva in your mouth have to do with teeth dehydration?
For starters, saliva helps to balance the pH of your mouth to a healthy level of about 6.5 to 7.5. It helps neutralize acids, which can otherwise be detrimental to the overall health of your mouth.
Which acids? You may ask.
Our mouths are hosts to many types of bacteria. Most of these bacteria produce acid, which can easily erode the enamel. Without saliva to balance pH levels, there’s no defense against the impacts of the acid.
The enamel is the first layer of protection for the inner part of your mouth. It protects the internal pores of your mouth. Without a strong enamel, the pores get exposed, and in turn, you end up losing moisture; hence, teeth dehydration.
Dehydration teeth clenching is another sign associated with teeth dehydration. When not properly hydrated, bruxism or teeth clenching can be one of the symptoms you experience on your teeth.
Injury
When you go through an injury, and your enamel cracks or breaks, the pores of your teeth get exposed. When the pores are open, it is easy to lose moisture, leading to tooth dehydration.
If you get dehydration from injured teeth, one of the solutions your dentist may bring forward is veneers. For others, you don’t even have to do lengthy procedures, like in the case of snap on veneers.
Medical condition
There are many types of diseases and medical conditions that can result in enamel erosion. Chronic acid reflux and eating disorders like bulimia expose teeth to corrosive acid, which can erode tooth enamel.
Low salivary flow, also known as xerostomia, is another medical condition that might bring about teeth dehydration.
Teeth whitening
During teeth whitening, the bleaching agent opens up the tiny pores beneath the enamel to reach the stains and break them down, leaving you with pearly white teeth. This raises the internal temperature of the teeth and may force out moisture, leading to teeth dehydration.
The teeth whitening cost at the dentist may be a little higher than at-home methods. However, they use a proven method that ensures your teeth do not get dehydrated, or at least without significant dehydration effects.
But, don’t worry, there are over-the-counter teeth whitening products that don’t cause dehydration like Snow’s products, and you can get the same results as an in-office treatment (just check Snow teeth whitening before and after pictures).
Signs of Dehydrated Teeth
Dehydrated teeth can occur due to a number of reasons. When you go through teeth whitening, the signs may not outwardly get publicized. However, besides the irritation, increased sensitivity, and discomfort, there are a few signs that you may have to watch out for to determine if you have teeth dehydration. A few of them are:
- White spots: The presence of white spots is a telltale sign that indicates dehydrated teeth after whitening. These dehydrated teeth white spots appear on teeth, generally overnight. Dehydrated teeth are also generally more pale than usual.
- Dry mouth: Tooth dehydration comes from a lack of moisture in your teeth. Often, this comes accompanied by a dry mouth. While a dry mouth is not a definitive marker of teeth dehydration, it definitely points to one.
Besides the common signs of dehydrated teeth, there are some other symptoms you may have to watch out for that may imply the same. Some of these symptoms include:
- Tooth pain
- Tender gums
- Cracked skin or lips
- Dry or sticky tongue
How To Restore Dehydrated Teeth
Teeth dehydration after whitening is a temporary issue. The issue may stay with you for 2 to 7 days. When using non-aggressive whitening options, such as the best teeth whitening pen, you may not even experience the symptoms of dehydration for long. However, if the signs and symptoms of dehydrated teeth persist past a week, it would be prudent to get your dentist involved.
In some cases, teeth dehydration can bring forth other oral problems, including tooth decay, if not well taken care of.
Not everyone will experience teeth dehydration symptoms, as it also depends on the level of sensitivity of your teeth. Nevertheless, there are a few ways to restore dehydrated teeth after teeth whitening. Here are a few tips to guide you on how to fix dehydrated teeth:
Clear diet
- It is crucial to steer clear of foods and other substances that may stain your teeth just after whitening. After the procedure, the teeth pores are enlarged, and staining your teeth is quite easy.
Avoiding dark-colored foods and drinks also helps in not straining your teeth’s pores, which when exposed to such stains again, may lead to dehydration.
Your dentist will advise on the best meal plan to follow after teeth whitening for the first few days, not only to maintain your new look but also to lessen or completely avoid the impacts of teeth dehydration.
Fluoride treatments
Fluoride works to restore minerals to your teeth and comes in handy, especially after procedures like teeth whitening. This treatment helps restore the minerals that your teeth need and prevents long-term tooth sensitivity that the whitening procedure may cause.
Stay hydrated
Staying hydrated is a top dehydrated teeth remedy. Low saliva flow in your mouth may increase the chances and amplify the symptoms of dry mouth. In this case, having a healthy amount of saliva in your mouth is crucial to your teeth' rehydration efforts.
If your body is not well hydrated, you may not be able to produce a sufficient amount of saliva.
This is why dentists advise you to drink lots of water and always be hydrated, especially for the first few days after a teeth whitening procedure.
FAQ
Overall, teeth dehydration may affect someone after whitening for about 2 to 7 days. However, should you experience the symptoms of dehydrated teeth after a week, you should seek professional medical assistance.
Teeth dehydration brings forth various symptoms, including increased sensitivity. This may also come as a form of pain or irritation that some people may find uncomfortable.
Teeth dehydration occurs when the pores are exposed. After a whitening procedure, the pores are still exposed to the bleaching agent. However, it only takes about 2 to 7 days before it returns to normal. It also depends if you know how to rehydrate teeth after whitening.
Although there may not be a way to cure teeth dehydration fast, you can do a few things to lessen its symptoms, at least until the problem naturally goes away.
Some of the ways that have been proven to be working include staying hydrated at all times, using fluoridated treatment, and sticking to a clear diet for the first few days.
It is important to always keep yourself hydrated to prevent or lower the impacts of dehydrated teeth. When your body is well-hydrated, you have lots sufficient saliva, which helps prevent scourges and causes of teeth dehydration.
