{"id":13789,"date":"2025-12-18T15:56:05","date_gmt":"2025-12-18T14:56:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platondental.com\/?p=13789"},"modified":"2026-02-15T22:25:02","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T21:25:02","slug":"teeth-whitening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platondental.com\/en\/teeth-whitening\/","title":{"rendered":"Teeth whitening: Truths, myths, and why activated charcoal doesn&#8217;t work"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"13789\" class=\"elementor elementor-13789 elementor-12983\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-13fb3120 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"13fb3120\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a1c87ed elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5a1c87ed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>In the age of Instagram filters and Hollywood smiles, we are constantly bombarded with images of celebrities sporting immaculate, almost artificial white teeth, and it is natural that when we look in the mirror, we feel that our smile has faded or yellowed.<\/p><p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/platondental.com\/tratamientos\/estetica-dental-mallorca\/blanqueamiento-dental-palma\/\">Teeth whitening<\/a><\/strong> is undoubtedly the most sought-after cosmetic treatment in clinics. And it makes perfect sense: a bright smile is instinctively associated with youth, hygiene and health. However, it is also the treatment that causes the most frustration if the rules of the game are not clearly explained before starting.<\/p><p>Many patients come to the clinic asking for a &#8216;white tooth&#8217; or a &#8216;white smile&#8217;. This is where we must start with the uncomfortable truth: <strong>natural human teeth are not pure white<\/strong>.<\/p><p>The colour of your teeth is determined by the dentine (the inner layer), which is yellowish, seen through the enamel (the outer layer), which is translucent. Over time, the enamel wears away and reveals more of that yellow background. What professional whitening does is not &#8220;paint&#8221; the tooth white, but deeply clean the enamel so that it regains its original brightness.<\/p><p>In this article, we&#8217;ll explain what you can really expect from this treatment, why those TikTok &#8220;home remedies&#8221; can permanently damage your enamel, and the crucial difference between having white teeth and wearing veneers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b978066 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"b978066\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<style>\n.reality-box {\nbackground color: #f8f9fa;\nborder radius: 12 pixels;\npadding: 30 pixels;\nmargin: 30 pixels 0;\nfont family: sans-serif;\nborder: 1 solid pixel #e9ecef;\nbox-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);\n}\n.rb-title {\ntext-align: center;\nfont-weight: 800;\ncolor: #2c3e50;\nfont-size: 1.2rem;\nmargin-bottom: 25px;\ntext-transform: uppercase;\nletter-spacing: 1px;\n}\n.rb-grid {\ndisplay: grid;\ngrid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;\ngap: 0;\nborder-radius: 8px;\noverflow: hidden;\n}\n@media (max-width: 600px) {\n.rb-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; }\n}\n.rb-col {\npadding: 25px;\n}\n.col-expectation {\nbackground-color: #e3f2fd; \/* Very light blue *\/\ncolor: #555;\n}\n.col-reality {\nbackground-color: #e8f8f5; \/* Very light green *\/\ncolor: #2c3e50;\n}\n.rb-head {\ndisplay: block;\nfont-weight: bold;\nmargin-bottom: 10px;\nfont-size: 1.1rem;\n}\n.head-exp { color: #3498db; }\n.head-real { color: #27ae60; }\n\n.rb-text {\nfont-size: 0.95rem;\nline-height: 1.5;\n}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"reality-box\">\n<div class=\"rb-title\"> Adjusting expectations<\/div>\n<div class=\"rb-grid\">\n<div class=\"rb-col col-expectation\">\n<span class=\"rb-head head-exp\">What you usually think<\/span>\n<p class=\"rb-text\">\n\u201cI want teeth the color of [TV celebrity]. I want them to be completely opaque white, like a sheet of paper.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"rb-col col-reality\">\n<span class=\"rb-head head-real\">The medical reality<\/span>\n<p class=\"rb-text\">\n\u201cWe will restore the <strong>maximum light potential<\/strong> of your enamel. They will be lighter and brighter, but will retain the naturalness and transparency of your teeth.\u201d\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a56247 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7a56247\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2522adf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2522adf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><span lang=\"EN-US\">How does teeth whitening really work? (The simple chemistry)<\/span><\/h2><p>To understand how whitening works, we must first dispel the idea that we are &#8220;painting&#8221; the tooth. <b>We do not apply a white coating on top<\/b>, but rather clean the darkness from within.<\/p><p>Imagine you have a white linen shirt that, over time and with repeated washing, has turned yellowish or greyish. If you rub the fabric with a hard brush (abrasion), you will only damage the fibres. What you need is a product that penetrates the fabric and &#8216;breaks down&#8217; the dirt molecules.<\/p><p>The same thing happens in dentistry. Your tooth enamel is not impermeable; it is porous, like a microscopic sponge. Pigments from coffee, wine or tobacco enter through these pores and settle in the inner layer (dentine).<\/p><p>Professional treatment uses a peroxide gel (hydrogen or carbamide). This gel does not scrape or sand the enamel. When applied, it gently penetrates the pores and releases oxygen.<\/p><p>This is where the magic happens: oxygen molecules seek out the dark pigment molecules that have stained your tooth and break their chemical bonds. By &#8220;breaking&#8221; these internal stains, the tooth allows light to pass through again and regains its natural brightness. Therefore, whitening does not alter the structure of your tooth, it only changes the way it reflects light.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e38401 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"0e38401\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<style>\n.mech-vs-chem-box {\nbackground-color: #fff;\nborder: 1px solid #dfe6e9;\nborder-radius: 12px;\npadding: 30px;\nmargin: 30px 0;\nfont-family: sans-serif;\nbox-shadow: 0 4px 15px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);\n}\n.mvc-title {\ntext-align: center;\nfont-size: 1.3rem;\nfont-weight: 800;\ncolor: #2d3436;\nmargin-bottom: 25px;\n}\n.mvc-container {\ndisplay: flex;\ngap: 20px;\njustify-content: center;\nflex-wrap: wrap;\n}\n.mvc-card {\nflex: 1;\nmin-width: 280px;\npadding: 20px;\nborder-radius: 8px;\nposition: relative;\n}\n\n\/* Abrasion Card (Bad) *\/\n.card-abrasion {\nbackground-color: #fff5f5;\nborder: 1px dashed #fab1a0;\n}\n.mvc-icon-bad {\nfont-size: 2rem;\nmargin-bottom: 10px;\ndisplay: block;\ntext-align: center;\n}\n.mvc-head-bad {\ncolor: #d63031;\nfont-weight: bold;\ndisplay: block;\ntext-align: center;\nmargin-bottom: 10px;\nfont-size: 1.1rem;\n}\n\n\/* Chemical Card (Good) *\/\n.card-chem {\nbackground-color: #e3f2fd;\nborder: 1px solid #90caf9;\n}\n.mvc-icon-good {\nfont-size: 2rem;\nmargin-bottom: 10px;\ndisplay: block;\ntext-align: center;\n}\n.mvc-head-good {\ncolor: #0984e3;\nfont-weight: bold;\ndisplay: block;\ntext-align: center;\nmargin-bottom: 10px;\nfont-size: 1.1rem;\n}\n\n.mvc-desc {\nfont-size: 0.95rem;\ncolor: #636e72;\nline-height: 1.4;\ntext-align: center;\n}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"mech-vs-chem-box\">\n<div class=\"mvc-title\">\u26a0\ufe0f Don't confuse \u201cSanding\u201d with \u201cBleaching\u201d<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"mvc-container\">\n<div class=\"mvc-card card-abrasion\">\n<span class=\"mvc-icon-bad\">\ud83e\uddfd<\/span>\n<span class=\"mvc-head-bad\">Mechanical Action (Sands)<\/span>\n<p class=\"mvc-desc\">\nWhat many \u201cwhitening\u201d toothpastes and activated charcoal do. They scrape the surface to remove external stains, but wear down the enamel over time.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"mvc-card card-chem\">\n<span class=\"mvc-icon-good\">\ud83e\uddea<\/span>\n<span class=\"mvc-head-good\">Chemical Action (Oxygen)<\/span>\n<p class=\"mvc-desc\">\nWhat <strong>professional gel<\/strong> does. It enters the pore and dissolves the internal stain without touching the enamel surface. It does <strong>not wear down<\/strong> the tooth.\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f5a29b1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f5a29b1\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"447\" src=\"https:\/\/platondental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Infografia-blanqueamiento-dental-1024x572.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-13787\" alt=\"Infograf\u00eda sobre la Guia del blanqueamiento dental\" srcset=\"https:\/\/platondental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Infografia-blanqueamiento-dental-1024x572.png 1024w, https:\/\/platondental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Infografia-blanqueamiento-dental-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/platondental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Infografia-blanqueamiento-dental-768x429.png 768w, https:\/\/platondental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Infografia-blanqueamiento-dental-1536x858.png 1536w, https:\/\/platondental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Infografia-blanqueamiento-dental-200x112.png 200w, https:\/\/platondental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Infografia-blanqueamiento-dental.png 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" title=\"Infograf\u00eda sobre la Guia del blanqueamiento dental\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32ff1ac e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"32ff1ac\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f32b413 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f32b413\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Types of whitening: Lamp, trays or combined?<\/h2><p>When you decide to whiten your teeth, you are faced with a menu of options that can be confusing. Is it better to do it in a quick session at the clinic or gradually at home? The short answer is: <strong>ideally, you should combine both approaches<\/strong>.<\/p><p>Let us look at the differences so that you understand what you are purchasing:<\/p><ol><li><strong>In-clinic whitening (photoactivation\/lamp)<\/strong> This is the &#8220;intensive&#8221; treatment. A highly concentrated gel is used, which is activated by a cold LED light.<\/li><\/ol><ul><li><strong>The good:<\/strong> The results are immediate. You see the change in 45 minutes.<\/li><li><strong>The fine print:<\/strong> Part of that &#8220;immediate whitening&#8221; is due to the tooth becoming dehydrated during the session. When the tooth rehydrates a couple of days later, the colour fades slightly (rebound effect). In addition, there is usually more acute sensitivity on the same day.<\/li><\/ul><ol start=\"2\"><li><strong> Home whitening (custom-made trays)<\/strong> Not to be confused with pharmacy kits. The dentist makes transparent moulds that fit your mouth perfectly and gives you syringes of professional gel (lower concentration) to apply while you sleep or for a few hours a day for 2-3 weeks.<\/li><\/ol><ul><li><strong>The good:<\/strong> It is a real, deep whitening. As it is slower, the colour sets better in the tooth structure and is much more stable in the long term.<\/li><li><strong>The fine print:<\/strong> It requires discipline and patience on your part.<\/li><\/ul><ol start=\"3\"><li><strong> The winning option: Combined whitening<\/strong> This is the protocol recommended by specialists. It consists of starting with a lamp session at the clinic to give the initial boost and open the pores, and continuing at home with the trays for 15 days.<\/li><\/ol><ul><li><strong>Why is it the best?<\/strong> You get immediate satisfaction from the colour change, but you ensure stability and durability with the at-home treatment. It&#8217;s the only way to achieve the maximum whitening potential of your enamel.<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-77ec476 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"77ec476\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<style>\n  .method-comparison {\n    display: flex;\n    flex-direction: column;\n    gap: 20px;\n    margin: 30px 0;\n    font-family: sans-serif;\n  }\n  .method-card {\n    border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;\n    border-radius: 10px;\n    padding: 20px;\n    background: white;\n    position: relative;\n  }\n  .method-title {\n    font-weight: 800;\n    font-size: 1.1rem;\n    margin-bottom: 5px;\n    color: #2c3e50;\n  }\n  .method-desc {\n    font-size: 0.95rem;\n    color: #555;\n    margin-bottom: 15px;\n  }\n  .pros-cons {\n    font-size: 0.85rem;\n    background: #f9f9f9;\n    padding: 10px;\n    border-radius: 5px;\n  }\n  \n  \/* Special Style for the Combined Method *\/\n  .card-winner {\n    border: 2px solid #f1c40f;\n    background: #fffdf5;\n    order: -1;\n  }\n  .winner-badge {\n    position: absolute;\n    top: -12px;\n    right: 20px;\n    background: #f1c40f;\n    color: #333;\n    font-weight: bold;\n    padding: 5px 15px;\n    border-radius: 20px;\n    font-size: 0.8rem;\n    box-shadow: 0 2px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.1);\n  }\n\n  @media (min-width: 768px) {\n    .method-comparison {\n      flex-direction: row;\n      align-items: stretch;\n    }\n    .method-card { flex: 1; }\n    .card-winner { transform: scale(1.05); z-index: 10; box-shadow: 0 10px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.1); }\n  }\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"method-comparison\">\n  \n  <div class=\"method-card\">\n    <div class=\"method-title\">\u26a1 In-clinic only<\/div>\n    <div class=\"method-desc\">Single 1-hour session with LED lamp.<\/div>\n    <div class=\"pros-cons\">\n      \u2705 Very fast<br>\n      \u274c Shorter-lasting colour\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"method-card card-winner\">\n    <div class=\"winner-badge\">\ud83c\udfc6 RECOMMENDED<\/div>\n    <div class=\"method-title\">\ud83d\udc8e Combined<\/div>\n    <div class=\"method-desc\">Lamp + 2 weeks of home trays.<\/div>\n    <div class=\"pros-cons\">\n      \u2705 Maximum possible whitening<br>\n      \u2705 Stable and long-lasting colour\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"method-card\">\n    <div class=\"method-title\">\ud83c\udfe0 Home only<\/div>\n    <div class=\"method-desc\">Use of trays for 3\u20134 weeks.<\/div>\n    <div class=\"pros-cons\">\n      \u2705 Low sensitivity<br>\n      \u274c Requires patience\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\u2003\n<div style=\"text-align: center; margin: 30px 0;\">\n<svg width=\"100%\" height=\"250\" viewBox=\"0 0 600 250\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" style=\"font-family: sans-serif; background: #f9f9f9; border-radius: 10px;\">\n  \n  <text x=\"150\" y=\"30\" font-size=\"16\" font-weight=\"bold\" fill=\"#2c3e50\" text-anchor=\"middle\">WHITENING<\/text>\n  <text x=\"150\" y=\"50\" font-size=\"12\" fill=\"#7f8c8d\" text-anchor=\"middle\">(Brightens from within)<\/text>\n\n  <path d=\"M110 200 Q90 200 90 150 L90 100 Q100 70 150 70 Q200 70 210 100 L210 150 Q210 200 190 200 H110 Z\" fill=\"#fff\" stroke=\"#bdc3c7\" stroke-width=\"2\"\/>\n  <circle cx=\"130\" cy=\"120\" r=\"3\" fill=\"#3498db\"><animate attributeName=\"opacity\" values=\"0;1;0\" dur=\"2s\" repeatCount=\"indefinite\" \/><\/circle>\n  <circle cx=\"160\" cy=\"140\" r=\"4\" fill=\"#3498db\"><animate attributeName=\"opacity\" values=\"0;1;0\" dur=\"2.5s\" repeatCount=\"indefinite\" \/><\/circle>\n  <circle cx=\"145\" cy=\"100\" r=\"2\" fill=\"#3498db\"><animate attributeName=\"opacity\" values=\"0;1;0\" dur=\"1.5s\" repeatCount=\"indefinite\" \/><\/circle>\n  <text x=\"150\" y=\"230\" font-size=\"12\" fill=\"#2980b9\" font-weight=\"bold\" text-anchor=\"middle\">Your natural tooth, lighter<\/text>\n\n  <line x1=\"300\" y1=\"20\" x2=\"300\" y2=\"230\" stroke=\"#ddd\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-dasharray=\"5,5\"\/>\n\n  <text x=\"450\" y=\"30\" font-size=\"16\" font-weight=\"bold\" fill=\"#2c3e50\" text-anchor=\"middle\">VENEER<\/text>\n  <text x=\"450\" y=\"50\" font-size=\"12\" fill=\"#7f8c8d\" text-anchor=\"middle\">(Covers the outside)<\/text>\n\n  <path d=\"M410 200 Q390 200 390 150 L390 100 Q400 70 450 70 Q500 70 510 100 L510 150 Q510 200 490 200 H410 Z\" fill=\"#f4e6cd\" stroke=\"#bdc3c7\" stroke-width=\"2\"\/> <path d=\"M405 200 Q385 200 385 150 L385 100 Q395 65 450 65 Q505 65 515 100 L515 150 Q515 200 495 200 H405\" fill=\"#ffffff\" stroke=\"#2c3e50\" stroke-width=\"2\" fill-opacity=\"0.9\"\/>\n  <text x=\"540\" y=\"130\" font-size=\"12\" fill=\"#2c3e50\">\u2b05 Mask<\/text>\n  <text x=\"450\" y=\"230\" font-size=\"12\" fill=\"#c0392b\" font-weight=\"bold\" text-anchor=\"middle\">Artificial shape and colour<\/text>\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7c8ceaa e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7c8ceaa\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c8b23bd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c8b23bd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><span lang=\"EN-US\">The dark side: Activated charcoal, lemon and bicarbonate of soda<\/span><\/h2><p>The internet is full of &#8220;natural remedies&#8221; that promise to whiten your teeth for little money. Activated charcoal, pure bicarbonate of soda with lemon, banana skins&#8230; They sound harmless because they are &#8220;natural&#8221;, but the reality is that they are the number one enemy of your tooth enamel.<\/p><p>To help you understand visually: <b>professional whitening is chemical; home remedies are sandpaper.<\/b><\/p><p><b>Activated charcoal and baking soda powder are abrasive particles.<\/b> When rubbed against your teeth, they effectively remove surface stains, but they do so by <b>scratching the enamel<\/b>. Imagine cleaning your glasses with an aluminium scouring pad: you will remove the dirt, yes, but you will leave the glass covered with irreversible micro-scratches.<\/p><p><b>Lemon is even worse: it is a powerful acid that decalcifies and erodes enamel (chemical erosion).<\/b><\/p><p><b>The sad irony:<\/b> If you overuse these methods, you will wear down the enamel (which is white) so much that it will become transparent and reveal the dentine (which is yellow). In other words, <b>by trying to whiten your teeth at home, you will end up with yellower and more sensitive teeth forever<\/b>.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b9d07e7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"b9d07e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/platondental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Blanqueamiento-dental-02-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-11187\" alt=\"Patient after teeth whitening treatment in Palma and Manacor\" srcset=\"https:\/\/platondental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Blanqueamiento-dental-02-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/platondental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Blanqueamiento-dental-02-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/platondental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Blanqueamiento-dental-02-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/platondental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Blanqueamiento-dental-02-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/platondental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Blanqueamiento-dental-02.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" title=\"Patient after teeth whitening treatment in Palma and Manacor\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-489cf26 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"489cf26\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-39955ea elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"39955ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><span lang=\"EN-US\">Post-treatment care (The &#8220;white diet&#8221;)<\/span><\/h2><p>You have just invested in improving your smile, and your teeth are brighter than ever. Now it is time to do your part: protect the results.<\/p><p>Remember what we explained about &#8220;open windows&#8221;. During the <b>48-72 hours following<\/b> treatment, your teeth are extremely permeable. They are thirsty and will absorb any pigment you give them. If you drink black coffee as soon as you leave the clinic, you are very likely to lose much of the effect achieved.<\/p><p>We call this the <b>White Diet<\/b>. During the first two or three days, you should avoid foods with strong colourings (natural or artificial) and acids at all costs.<\/p><p>Whitening is not a permanent tattoo; it is maintenance. Over time, your teeth will naturally darken again due to age and diet, but if you follow these tips and do a little annual refresher (using the trays at home for a couple of nights), you can maintain that brightness for years.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-829b0c7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"829b0c7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div style=\"text-align: center; margin: 30px 0;\">\n<svg width=\"100%\" height=\"300\" viewBox=\"0 0 600 300\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" style=\"font-family: sans-serif; background: #fff; border: 1px solid #eee; border-radius: 10px;\">\n  \n  <rect x=\"50\" y=\"50\" width=\"500\" height=\"200\" rx=\"10\" fill=\"#fffbe6\" \/>\n  \n  <text x=\"300\" y=\"30\" font-size=\"16\" font-weight=\"bold\" fill=\"#2c3e50\" text-anchor=\"middle\">WHY DO YOU FEEL \"ZINGERS\"?<\/text>\n\n  <text x=\"170\" y=\"270\" font-size=\"14\" font-weight=\"bold\" fill=\"#7f8c8d\" text-anchor=\"middle\">Normal condition<\/text>\n  <path d=\"M120 50 L120 200\" stroke=\"#e0e0e0\" stroke-width=\"20\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\/>\n  <path d=\"M220 50 L220 200\" stroke=\"#e0e0e0\" stroke-width=\"20\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\/>\n  <circle cx=\"120\" cy=\"60\" r=\"12\" fill=\"#95a5a6\" \/>\n  <circle cx=\"220\" cy=\"60\" r=\"12\" fill=\"#95a5a6\" \/>\n  <text x=\"170\" y=\"130\" font-size=\"12\" fill=\"#7f8c8d\" text-anchor=\"middle\">Blocked pore<\/text>\n  <path d=\"M100 20 L115 50 L140 30\" stroke=\"#3498db\" stroke-width=\"3\" fill=\"none\" marker-end=\"url(#arrow)\"\/>\n\n  <line x1=\"300\" y1=\"60\" x2=\"300\" y2=\"240\" stroke=\"#ddd\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-dasharray=\"5,5\"\/>\n\n  <text x=\"430\" y=\"270\" font-size=\"14\" font-weight=\"bold\" fill=\"#e74c3c\" text-anchor=\"middle\">During treatment<\/text>\n  <path d=\"M380 50 L380 200\" stroke=\"#ffeaa7\" stroke-width=\"20\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\/>\n  <path d=\"M480 50 L480 200\" stroke=\"#ffeaa7\" stroke-width=\"20\" stroke-linecap=\"round\"\/>\n  <rect x=\"50\" y=\"200\" width=\"500\" height=\"20\" fill=\"#ff7675\" \/>\n  <text x=\"300\" y=\"215\" font-size=\"12\" fill=\"#fff\" font-weight=\"bold\" text-anchor=\"middle\">DENTAL NERVE<\/text>\n\n  <path d=\"M380 20 L380 190\" stroke=\"#3498db\" stroke-width=\"4\" stroke-dasharray=\"5,5\" fill=\"none\">\n    <animate attributeName=\"stroke-dashoffset\" from=\"100\" to=\"0\" dur=\"1s\" repeatCount=\"indefinite\" \/>\n  <\/path>\n  <text x=\"380\" y=\"40\" font-size=\"20\">\u2744\ufe0f<\/text>\n  \n  <path d=\"M480 20 L480 190\" stroke=\"#f1c40f\" stroke-width=\"4\" stroke-dasharray=\"5,5\" fill=\"none\">\n    <animate attributeName=\"stroke-dashoffset\" from=\"100\" to=\"0\" dur=\"1.5s\" repeatCount=\"indefinite\" \/>\n  <\/path>\n  <text x=\"480\" y=\"40\" font-size=\"20\">\u2728<\/text>\n  \n  <text x=\"430\" y=\"150\" font-size=\"12\" fill=\"#c0392b\" font-weight=\"bold\" text-anchor=\"middle\">Channel open to the nerve<\/text>\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3e9778e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3e9778e\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-730ff70 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"730ff70\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><span lang=\"EN-US\">Does it hurt? Let&#8217;s talk about tooth sensitivity.<\/span><\/h2><p>Let&#8217;s be clear: yes, whitening can cause sensitivity. If someone promises you that it is &#8220;100% painless&#8221; in all cases, they are not telling you the whole truth. But there is a big difference between &#8220;damage&#8221; and &#8220;temporary sensitivity&#8221;.<\/p><p>For whitening to work, we need the gel to penetrate down to the dentine. To do this, the micro-pores in the enamel (called dentinal tubules) must be opened and cleaned.<\/p><p>Imagine that your tooth is a house with the windows closed. Normally, the cold or heat from outside does not enter. During whitening, we open all the windows at once to clean thoroughly. What happens? If a draught (a cold drink) enters, you feel it directly in the nerve.<\/p><p>This sensation, known as &#8220;tooth sensitivity&#8221; or hypersensitivity, is <b>completely reversible<\/b>. Once the treatment is complete and the tooth is rehydrated, these &#8220;windows&#8221; close again naturally. The discomfort usually lasts between 24 and 48 hours. If you experience it, don&#8217;t panic: it means that the product is penetrating, but your dentist can give you desensitising gels to soothe the nerve in the meantime.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72e47e7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-html\" data-id=\"72e47e7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"html.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<style>\n.diet-traffic-light {\ndisplay: flex;\nflex-direction: column;\ngap: 15px;\nmargin: 30px 0;\nfont-family: sans-serif;\n}\n.diet-card {\nborder-radius: 10px;\npadding: 20px;\ndisplay: flex;\nalign-items: center;\ngap: 20px;\nbox-shadow: 0 2px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);\n}\n.diet-icon {\nfont-size: 2rem;\nmin-width: 50px;\ntext-align: center;\n}\n.diet-content h4 {\nmargin: 0 0 5px 0;\ntext-transform: uppercase;\nfont-size: 0.9rem;\nletter-spacing: 1px;\n}\n.diet-content p {\nmargin: 0;\nfont-size: 0.95rem;\nline-height: 1.4;\ncolor: #555;\n}\n\n\/* Red - Prohibited *\/\n.card-red {\nbackground color: #fff5f5;\nleft border: 8px solid #e74c3c;\n}\n.card-red h4 { color: #c0392b; }\n\n\/* Yellow - Caution *\/\n.card-yellow {\nbackground color: #fffdf0;\nborder-left: 8px solid #f1c40f;\n}\n.card-yellow h4 { color: #d4ac0d; }\n\n\/* Green - Permitted *\/\n.card-green {\nbackground-color: #f0f9f4;\nborder-left: 8px solid #2ecc71;\n}\n.card-green h4 { color: #27ae60; }\n\n@media (min-width: 700px) {\n.diet-traffic-light { flex-direction: row; align-items: stretch; }\n.diet-card { flex: 1; flex-direction: column; text-align: center; }\n.diet-card { padding: 30px 20px; }\n.diet-card { border-left: none; border-top: 8px solid; }\n.card-red { border-top-color: #e74c3c; }\n.card-yellow { border-top-color: #f1c40f; }\n.card-green { border-top-color: #2ecc71; }\n}\n<\/style>\n\n<div class=\"diet-traffic-light\">\n\n<div class=\"diet-card card-red\">\n<div class=\"diet-icon\">\ud83d\udeab<\/div>\n<div class=\"diet-content\">\n<h4>Prohibited (48 hours)<\/h4>\n<p>Coffee, tea, red wine, soy sauce, curry, red fruits, beetroot, tobacco, and cola drinks. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"diet-card card-yellow\">\n<div class=\"diet-icon\">\u26a0\ufe0f<\/div>\n<div class=\"diet-content\">\n<h4>With caution<\/h4>\n<p>Tomato sauces, dark chocolate, acidic juices (orange\/lemon) or very cold drinks. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"diet-card card-green\">\n<div class=\"diet-icon\">\u2705<\/div>\n<div class=\"diet-content\">\n<h4>Recommended<\/h4>\n<p>Chicken, turkey, white fish, rice, pasta (without red sauce), white dairy products, cauliflower, and water. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ca798b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"6ca798b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a690b4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"1a690b4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/platondental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blanqueamiento-dental-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-13788\" alt=\"Imagen de una mujer tras realizarse un blanqueamiento dental\" srcset=\"https:\/\/platondental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blanqueamiento-dental-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/platondental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blanqueamiento-dental-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/platondental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blanqueamiento-dental-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/platondental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blanqueamiento-dental-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/platondental.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Blanqueamiento-dental.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" title=\"Imagen de una mujer tras realizarse un blanqueamiento dental\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We explain professional whitening and dangerous home remedies, how much lighter your teeth can become, what temporary sensitivity is, and how to maintain the color.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13788,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[197,198],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13789","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aesthetics","category-teeth-whitening"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/platondental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13789","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/platondental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/platondental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platondental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platondental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13789"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/platondental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13789\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13805,"href":"https:\/\/platondental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13789\/revisions\/13805"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platondental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13788"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/platondental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13789"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platondental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13789"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platondental.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13789"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}