Has your smile lost its sparkle? Teeth Whitening may be the answer!
Teeth Whitening is a safe way to restore your teeth back to looking brighter and healthier. Many of our patients here at Mermaid Smiles love teeth whitening, so we thought we’d share everything you need to know about this simple, yet effective treatment.
How does Teeth Whitening Work?
Teeth whitening is a simple process that can transform your smile. Most people don’t know that teeth actually have pores in them, making them easily stainable by coloured foods or substances. These stains won’t go away until you remove them, which is where teeth whitening may be the answer. Teeth whitening products contain one of two bleaches – hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide – which breakdown tooth stains into smaller pieces, and removes them.
Once either of these bleaches are applied to the teeth, they absorb into the teeth and push stains out through the pores in the teeth. Depending on the grade of the teeth whitening, tooth discolouration can be corrected and your teeth will look cleaner and brighter than before.
What Causes Stains on Teeth?
Factors that can contribute to stained teeth are:
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- Food and Drink
- Smoking
- Age
- Trauma
- Medications
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Does Teeth Whitening Work on All Teeth?
Unfortunately, teeth whitening will not work for everyone’s teeth. This can be the case if you have had any of the following tooth restoration procedures completed:
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- Porcelain veneers
- Dental bonding
- Dental implants
- Dental fillings
- Inlays
- Outlays
If you have any of the above teeth procedures, teeth whitening won’t be a suitable option for you, as both professional and over the counter teeth whitening products don’t work on dental restoration materials. When it comes to teeth whitening, different people will also receive different levels of whiteness as a result of the treatment. Generally, yellow teeth typically bleach well, whereas brown teeth and teeth with grey tones are not likely to respond to the treatment and may fail to whiten.
Does Teeth Whitening Damage Your Teeth?
Like everything, there is a slight possibility that teeth whitening may damage your teeth, but there is also the possibility of damaging your teeth if they are being brushed too harshly or not regularly enough. Despite the teeth whitening process opening up the teeth’s pore, upon completion of the treatment, the teeth naturally remineralise and rehydrate to prevent damage, and the safest way to do this is through a dental practice.
What Are the Different Types of Teeth Whitening Treatments?
With such a huge interest in teeth whitening, many different practices have developed various ways of achieving the best results. Listed below are some of the most popular teeth whitening techniques.
Toothpaste
Many toothpastes currently sold are marketed as teeth whitening products. While some of these toothpastes do have teeth whitening properties, they don’t change the colour of your teeth, they just remove the built-up surface stains. Brushing your teeth also helps removes these surface stains through gentle abrasion.
In-Clinic Whitening
In-clinic teeth whitening is one of the most popular and effective options. This option is completed by a professional who can provide a higher concentrate of tooth whitening product than you would have access to at home. This solution is then activated by a UV light, which can be known as laser whitening in some instances. Having your teeth whitened by a professional will not only get you better results in a shorter time but is also the safest option. You are under a qualified professional’s supervision for the entire treatment, and they are able to monitor how you react to the treatment and ensure that your gums and lips are protected correctly from the solution.
At-Home Whitening Kit Provided by Dentist
At-home teeth whitening is the second-best option if you are unable to have in-clinic teeth whitening completed. This option involves your dentist creating a custom tray for your teeth, as well as providing the whitening solution for you to complete the process yourself at home. In comparison to having your teeth whitened in a clinic, at-home teeth whitening can take a couple of weeks until you notice any changes.
Store Bought Whitening Products
Finally, we have the most popular option when it comes to teeth whitening. As teeth whitening popularity increases, so does the range of over-the-counter teeth whitening products. These teeth whitening kits can be found in a range of stores, such as chemists, grocery stores or even online. They also come in different variations, with the most popular choices being teeth whitening strips and light-activated teeth whitening trays. Most people won’t receive drastic changes in their teeth colour from home whitening kits, but often choose them, as they are one of the cheaper options.
Does Teeth Whitening Make Teeth Sensitive?
A lot of people wonder if teeth whitening will make their teeth more susceptible to sensitivity. It is hard to give a definite answer for individuals, as some people’s teeth may be sensitive to the key whitening ingredient, peroxide. Due to the peroxide sensitivity, some may find that it causes their teeth to ache when they consume hot or cold food or drink. Usually, this sensitivity does go away over time. While your teeth are sensitive, it is important to stay away from consuming food and beverage at very hot or cold temperatures. Another option to prevent tooth sensitivity would be to find a tooth whitening treatment that has lower levels of peroxide in the solution or to try applying the solution for a shorter period.
Do you think teeth whitening may be a treatment that you’re interested in?
Before booking in a treatment, we always recommend booking in with your dentist to have a general check-up and clean to ensure the treatment will be beneficial for your teeth.
If you would like any further information about teeth whitening or to book in with one of our dentists, contact us today!
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