LASER TEETH WHITENING PROS AND CONS

HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM HOME WHITENING KITS/STRIPS?

Most home whitening products are gradual whiteners, which would require you to whiten for several days in row to yield max results. Mint Smilebar is 7x faster than most home whitening kits/strips. 1 session at the smile bar is equivalent to you whitening with strips for 7 days in a row.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS LIKE?

Watch this video and check out what the process is like!

WHAT TO DO BEFORE I WHITEN?

1. Teeth whitening is a COSMETIC treatment. Make sure your teeth are healthy before undergoing any teeth whitening treatments. If you suspect you have any underlying dental issues, visit your dentist to get examined.

2. Dental cleanings are recommended as it enhances your results.

3. Do your research! Although teeth whitenining works for most people it has it's limitations. Are your expectations aligned with reality? Do you know what teeth whitening can/cannot do? Unsatisfactory outcome is often a result of unrealistic expectations.

AM I A CANDIDATE?

Teeth whitening is a COSMETIC treatment. Make sure your teeth are healthy before undergoing any teeth whitening treatments. If you suspect you have any underlying dental issues, visit your dentist to get examined. As a rule of thumb this is best for individuals who visit their dentist regularly, and are aware that their teeth are healthy and have no underlying dental issues. We encourage you to get a cleaning, prior to your session as it helps with your results.
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1. Must be 12 yrs of age or older.
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2. Cannot be used by pregnant women. If breastfeeding, consult with your OB GYN.
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3. Must NOT have the following (if you suspect you have the following, please consult with your dentist first and make sure your teeth are healthy):

• Gum Disease

HOW MANY SHADES LIGHTER WILL I GO?

**YOUR TEETH WILL NEVER BE WHITER THAN THE NATURAL COLOUR OF YOUR TEETH the colour of teeth you are born with)**

1. You can expect your teeth to be 2-8 shades lighter, some have even whiten up to 10 shades lighter. The longer the session, the more significant the results.

2. Some teeth will whiten better than others. It really just depends on how your enamel reacts with the gel and the severity of your stains.

2. The natural color of your teeth is genetically determined, we can only get your teeth as white as your natural genetics will allow. Photos of celebrities you see with "paper white" teeth have veneers or are enhanced by great lighting or photo editing.

3. If you have heavily stained teeth or your teeth are difficult to whiten you would need to follow up with a whitening pen for 5 days after the session to give your results a boost. Or you can come back to the smile bar for another session in a month.

WILL MY TEETH GO PAPER WHITE?

1. The natural color of your teeth is genetically determined, we can only get your teeth as white as your natural genetics will allow. Photos of celebrities you see with "paper white" teeth have veneers or are enhanced by great lighting or photo editing.

2. Check your expectations. Unsatisfactory outcome is often a result of unrealistic expectations as well as failure to educate yourself on the contingencies of teeth whitening (it has its limitations).

WILL I GET SENSITIVITY?

1. The session is typically painless and relaxing (most people fall asleep). Session must be stopped if you experience sharp unmanageable pains during the whitening session, this is a sign of an open cavity, you must contact your dentist and consult with them immediately.

2. After the session most people experience zero to minimal teeth sensitivity. If you do experience sensitivity it will typically only last the first 24 hours. If you are prone to existing sensitivity, have a recently cracked teeth, micro cracks, open cavities, leaking fillings, exposed roots or other dental conditions that cause sensitivity then you are more likely to experience it. Prolonged sensitivity after treatment is also a possibility.

HOW LONG WILL MY RESULTS LAST?

1. Typically, along with proper maintenance your results will last 6-12 months. How long it lasts depends on the amount of stain causing foods you consume and how porous your teeth are. Teeth that are naturally more porous absorb stains much easier, thus shade regression may occur much quicker. The porosity of your teeth is genetic.

2. Teeth whitening is not permanent. After the session it is completely normal to expect some shade regression over time, especially if you smoke and regularly consume stain-causing foods.

3. To help your results last longer, we highly advise purchasing a teeth whitening pen and/or kit to maintain your results.

DOES IT HURT?

Most customers feel nothing during the session. If you experience sharp pains (zingers) during the whitening session, this is a sign of an open cavity, the session must be stopped and you would need to consult with your dentist.

POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS

1. Gum/Lip Irritation: Gum and lip irritation may occur when the whitening gel comes in contact with your gums or lips. When irritation occurs, the area may become white (blanching), sore or inflamed. The tissue will return to normal within 24 hours. On a rare occasion gum irritation may cause light bleeding. Bleeding is typically a sign of gum disease. We highly recommend you stop using all teeth whitening products and contact your dentist. We minimize the chances of irritation by applying vitamin E oil on the gums and lip. If irritation does occur, applying vitamin E oil to the affected area does alleviate it quite significantly.

2. Teeth Sensitivity: Although uncommon, some individuals may experience tooth sensitivity during the first 24 hours. If you are prone to existing sensitivity, have a recently cracked teeth, micro cracks, open cavities, leaking fillings, exposed roots or other dental conditions that cause sensitivity then you are more likely to experience it. Prolonged sensitivity after treatment is also a possibility. If you believe you may be more susceptible to sensitivity, you can brush your teeth with sensitivity toothpaste for up to 3 days before your session or you can purchase our desensitizing gel to reduce sensitivity.

3. Spots or Streaking: Post whitening session, some individuals may develop spots or streaks in their teeth that are whiter than the rest. This is due to calcium deposits that naturally occur in your teeth. These spots are not caused by the whitening gel. Calcium deposits are already on your teeth, the gel just makes them visible again, these spots will eventually diminish in a few days.

WHAT IS THE ACTIVE INGREDIENT?

Peroxide

HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT THAN THE DENTIST?

There's no difference between the quality of the gel and active ingredient. Like the dentist we use a peroxide based gel. However the dentist CAN use a higher percentage of peroxide (it doesn't necessarily mean that they do, so you should ask). Please note: with a higher peroxide percentage it COULD be more painful and most people don't need such a high peroxide percentage to yield significant results.

Our whitening gel also contains a desensitizing agent, which alleviates sensitivity.

You can expect to pay more at a dental office because they are Dentists! Their chair time is more valuable. This is essentially what your paying for (their time).

With Mint Smilebar, you get your teeth whitened in a relaxing spa like setting.

WHAT SYSTEM DO YOU USE? DO YOU USE ZOOM?

The whitening system we use is our own brand: Mint Smilebar. Mint Smilebar whitening gel is a high quality whitening gel that is formulated by a Dentist and manufactured in North America. Similar to Zoom, we use a peroxide based whitening gel.

IS THIS A DENTAL OFFICE?

A "Smile Bar" is a beauty service establishment similar to a salon or spa.

WHO PERFORMS THE SERVICE?

Teeth whitening technicians

HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT THAN ZOOM?

Similar to Zoom, peroxide is the active ingredient, however our gel contains a desensitizing agent that greatly alleviates sensitivity. The application process is similar. Mint Smilebar whitening gel is formulated by a dentist and manufactured in North America. We use a high quality whitening gel that is tough on stains yet gentle on your teeth. Our gel is vegan, cruelty free, non GMO and gluten free.

HOW DO I ALLEVIATE SENSITIVITY?

1. In the event that you do get sensitivity, you can alleviate it by taking Ibuprofen (Advil), sensitivity toothpaste (Rapid Relief Sensodyne works great), or purchase a Desensitizing Gel online or in-store. 2. Remember that sensitivity is transient and will typically only last a day. Next time you whiten, you would need to reduce the treatment time. For example, if you whitened for an hour try reducing it to 40-20 mins instead (People that get sensitivity need to whiten for shorter durations). 3. It's also important to get checked by your dental provider prior to whitening to make sure you don't have any underlying dental conditions, as this can cause discomfort (ie: People with cracks in their teeth can experience prolonged sensitivity).

WHAT IS THE AFTER CARE LIKE?

1. After your session, you can't eat or drink anything (except water) for 1 hour. Make sure to eat before your session.

2. Post whitening, your teeth are dehydrated and extremely porous, becoming like a sponge that absorbs colour quite easily. It is highly recommended that you stay away from "foods that can stain your white shirt" within 24-48 hours (The White Diet).

3. Upgrade to the 360 package to skip the White Diet!

2. After the session it is completely normal to expect some shade regression over time, especially if you smoke and regularly consume stain-causing foods. We recommend purchasing maintenance products to prolong your results.

IS THERE MAINTENANCE?

Teeth whitening is not permanent. It's similar to sun tanning, once you get to your desired shade you have to whiten periodically remain within that shade range. After the session it is completely normal to expect some shade regression over time. To help your results last longer, we highly advise purchasing a teeth whitening pen and/or kit to maintain/prolong your results.

I DID 1 SESSION AND EXPECTED IT TO GO LIGHTER, WHAT DO I DO?

So you had your session, and you expected to go lighter, now what? Everyone's teeth whitens differently, some teeth are more difficult to whiten than others. If you didn't get to your desired shade from one session your options are: 1. Book a follow up session after a month 2. Purchase a whitening pen and whiten at home for 30 min a day for the next 5 days 3. Check your expectations. Unsatisfactory outcome is often a result of unrealistic expectations as well as failure to educate yourself on the contingencies of teeth whitening. There's a limit to how white your teeth can get and that's determined by your genetics.

WHAT CAN I HAVE ON THE WHITE DIET?

The White Diet is very important to any teeth whitening procedure. You must keep to this for 24-48 hours and avoid any food or staining agent that will cause discoloration. Remember that after the teeth whitening treatment the pores of your enamel are open and this makes them extremely vulnerable to any staining agents. Once the pores close, which usually occurs 24-48 hours after the procedure, you can resume your normal habits. Below are some suggestions as to what you can have and what you should avoid: 1. LIQUIDS TO AVOID: tea, coffee, orange juice, cola and other fizzy drinks, red wine, beer 2. LIQUIDS YOU CAN HAVE: still or sparkling water, tonic water, skimmed milk, vodka, malibu, gin, white wine 3. SOLIDS TO AVOID: carrots, peas, sweet corn, broccoli, green beans, sprouts, mushrooms, tomatoes, red/green lettuce, beetroot, butter, margarine, bread (NO WHEAT - pita bread is okay), fruit (since most are acidic - bananas are okay), bolognese, curry, chili sauce, chocolates or sweets (chewing gum is okay if unsweetened) 4. SOLIDS YOU CAN HAVE: chicken (dry or boiled - NO fat), turkey, white fish, white rice, white pasta, white sauce, cauliflower, cottage cheese, potatoes (NO skin) If you prefer to skip the White Diet, purchase a desensitizing gel to use after your session!

HOW DO I ALLEVIATE SENSITIVITY?

1. In the event that you do get sensitivity, you can alleviate it by taking Ibuprofen (Advil), sensitivity toothpaste (Rapid Relief Sensodyne works great), or purchase a Desensitizing Gel. 2. Remember that sensitivity is transient and will typically only last a day. Next time you whiten, you would need to reduce the treatment time. For example, if you whitened for an hour try reducing it to 40-20 mins instead (People that get sensitivity need to whiten for shorter durations). 3. It's also important to get checked by your dental provider prior to whitening to make sure you don't have any underlying dental conditions, as this can cause discomfort (ie: People with cracks in their teeth can experience prolonged sensitivity).