FAQs

How long does whitening strips work depends upon the individual. Some teeth take up whitening very well others don’t. It is also dependent upon the patient’s diet. Any food which stains teeth more will reduce the effectiveness of whitening. So, if you use too much coffee, red wine, tomato juice, food with turmeric, whitening will not last long.

I always tell my patients to at least try the whitening strips once if they don’t work then we know you need higher strength in office whitening. Also whitening works very well on teeth with yellowish discoloration versus teeth with grey discoloration.

We usually recommend patient avoid straw after gum grafting (periodontal grafting) for about two weeks. Straw can create suction in mouth, and it can result in graft coming off.

Cost on Invisalign depends upon the complexity of case. Generally in New Jersey the cost is somewhere five to seven thousand dollars.

Saltwater gargles are effective for mild gum infection and their use is recommended 48 hours after oral surgery. Saltwater gargles cannot cure gum disease. You need periodontal treatment to cure disease.

Mouthwash can reduce the bacterial load in mouth. However, it does not replace good teeth brushing and flossing. It can be adjunct to brushing and flossing but it cannot replace them.

Teeth whitening and veneers are two completely different procedures. In short you cannot whiten existing veneers. However, if you plan to get veneers or crowns on your front teeth whitening is recommended before the procedures.  In that situation the shade of veneers / crowns can be matched to your whitened teeth and if latter your natural teeth that are not under veneer get stained, they can be whitened again.

Immediately after tooth extraction we want you to avoid very hot, spicy or chewy food for about 24 hours. So ideal food will be mashed potatoes, milk shakes, ice creams. It is very important to provide nutrition to your body so it will heal well. After 24 to 48 hours, you can eat any food you are comfortable chewing.

Braces require extra care. Food tends to get stuck in them and if not removed in a timely fashion it can cause tooth decay. Special attention should be given to the area between braces and your gumline, this is where most of the food particles get stuck. Since you cannot floss the traditional way it’s important to use dental proxy brushes to clean in between the teeth.

Cost of dental implant varies depending upon if you need bone graft to make adequate space for implant. Generally dental implant can cost between 3500 to 4500 in NJ.

Best way to stop bleeding after dental extraction is to keep biting on the gauze for about 45 min. If it gets too wet with blood, you can change it. Pressure is the best way to stop this bleeding. You should avoid rinsing and spitting for 24 hours after extraction. It’s important to understand that saliva tinged with blood is normal and can be there for 24 hours. That is no reason be concerned about.