Is Teeth Whitening for You?
People face different oral issues, from serious dental problems to aesthetic matters. Since upper and lower teeth are one of the most distinguished and visible parts of the mouth, their shape, colour, and structure become crucial to your facial aesthetics. A leading dental aesthetic issue with teeth is discolouration or stains. Most people wish for white, shining teeth that make them look appealing and contribute to a captivating and confident smile. However, due to various reasons, discolouration of teeth can occur over time, leaving individuals feeling self-conscious about their smiles.Reasons for Tooth Discoloration
While most teeth discolouration issues happen due to lifestyle choices or the lack of dental care, some people face it due to their medical conditions or treatments.
- People who consume coffee, tea, wines, colas, and some fruits and vegetables experience stain issues on their teeth. People who eat potatoes and apples often struggle with stains on their teeth.
- Lack of dental care is another major reason for teeth discolouration. Insufficient brushing and flossing can lead to tooth discolouration and stains. Some antiseptic mouthwashes can cause stains on your teeth. People who use phenolic mouthwashes often experience yellow staining. Similarly, mouthwashes that contain cetylpyridinium chloride and chlorhexidine also stain teeth.
- Tobacco use, both smoking and chewing, can lead to tooth discolouration and stains. Since tobacco stains go deep into the enamel after several years of smoking or chewing, dentists often find removing it difficult.
- Certain antibiotic medications, such as doxycycline and tetracycline, can cause tooth discolouration in children. Also, certain antipsychotic drugs, medicines for high blood pressure, and antihistamines have been found to cause tooth discolouration.
- When people age, the outer white layer of enamel gets worn away. Therefore, the yellowish dentin becomes highly visible, making the teeth yellowish.
- Excessive use of fluoride in various forms, such as toothpaste, rinses, and food supplements, can lead to teeth discolouration.
- Some dental materials like amalgam restorations and products that contain silver sulphide create grey-black colour spots in teeth.
Teeth Whitening Options
At Home Teeth Whitening Products
There are a range of teeth whitening products available for at-home use, offering convenience and the opportunity to brighten your smile in the comfort of your home. Some common types of at-home teeth whitening products include:- Whitening Toothpaste: These are designed to whiten the teeth to some extent. They often contain mild abrasives and polishing agents to help remove surface stains over time.
- Whitening Strips: These are thin, flexible strips coated with a peroxide-based gel. You apply them directly to your teeth and wear them for a specified period, usually once a day for a couple of weeks.
- Whitening Gels or Trays: These kits include custom-fitted trays that you fill with a whitening gel and wear over your teeth. Dentists often provide them for at-home use, ensuring a more controlled and effective process.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Professional Teeth Whitening comes in two main options: in-office and at-home treatment facilitated by your dentist. Both approaches are designed to brighten your smile effectively, but they differ in setting and process.- In-Office Treatment: This is a dynamic and swift method executed by a dental professional within their clinic. The procedure offers immediate results, making it ideal for individuals seeking rapid transformation before significant events or occasions. During the session, your dentist will apply a potent whitening solution to your teeth, often utilising advanced technologies like laser or light activation to accelerate the process. The controlled environment and professional supervision ensure both safety and optimal outcomes.
- At-Home Treatment through Your Dentist This approach involves custom-fitted trays provided by your dentist and a professional-grade whitening gel. While the process takes place in the comfort of your home, it’s guided and overseen by your dentist. You’ll fill the trays with the whitening gel and wear them for a prescribed duration daily. This method typically spans a few weeks, offering gradual yet noticeable improvements. It’s a great choice for those who prefer a more flexible schedule and are willing to invest time in achieving the desired results.
What Are the Advantages of Getting Your Teeth Professionally Whitened?
Getting your teeth professionally whitened offers many advantages that enhance a smile and overall oral well-being. These benefits encompass:- Long-Lasting Results Professional whitening treatments yield more enduring results than over-the-counter options, providing a brighter smile that lasts over time.
- Less Chance of Side Effects:A dentist’s expertise significantly reduces the risk of adverse effects like tooth sensitivity or gum irritation, ensuring a comfortable and safe experience.
- Improved Self-Esteem: A whiter smile often boosts self-confidence, positively impacting various aspects of your life.
- Quick Procedure: In-office whitening procedures offer swift outcomes, making them suitable for those seeking rapid improvements before significant events.
- Professional and Customised Procedure: Dental professionals tailor the whitening process to your needs, ensuring a personalised approach that maximises effectiveness.
- Better Oral Health: Before whitening, any underlying dental issues are addressed by your dentists, guaranteeing your oral health is optimal before the procedure.
- Cost-Effective in the Long Run: Although the initial investment might be higher than at-home options, professional whitening’s long-lasting effects make it cost-effective.
- Professional Post-Advice: Following the procedure, you receive expert guidance from a dental professional on maintaining your results, which aids in prolonging the benefits of your whitening treatment.
Is Teeth Whitening Safe?
Most teeth whitening treatments are generally safe and produce guaranteed results. Sometimes, the bleaching agent present in the whitening product may irritate your gums, and most dentists use special protection devices to secure your gums from the bleaching agent. People may also face tooth sensitivity to varied extents. However, none of these issues are prolonged or severe, and people can be relieved after the teeth whitening process. Over-the-counter teeth whitening kits in Australia do not contain more than six per cent hydrogen peroxide. However, teeth-whitening products with higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide can lead to chemical burns. Compared to teeth whitening at home, the treatment performed by a dental specialist reduces the risks associated with teeth whitening. The chemicals used for teeth whitening do not cause any harsh effects on the human body. Studies also confirm that it does not cause any long-term health implications. However, new mothers and pregnant women are advised to avoid teeth whitening as the whitening chemical can enter the breast milk and the placenta.Does It Produce Permanent Results?
Only some people can expect the same level of whitening with the treatment. The degree of whiteness depends on several factors, including the level of discolouration, the type of treatment you receive, the natural colour of your teeth, and much more. Before proceeding with the treatment, you can speak to your dentist and explain your expectations from the teeth whitening service. All of these teeth whitening treatment options can only provide you with permanent results. Most teeth whitening services produce results for six months to three years. By refraining from smoking and staining food and drink items, you can enjoy the whitening effects for longer.Right Time for Whitening When Getting Ready for A Big Event
People who prepare for upcoming events want to look their best and take a teeth whitening service as an option to achieve it. It would help if you learned about different teeth whitening options and their duration to produce the best results before deciding to have teeth whitening treatment. For people who prefer teeth whitening at home, getting the best results may take up to two weeks. In comparison, the teeth whitening service provided by a dental professional produces instant results. People who choose whitening toothpaste should wait at least four weeks to notice any changes. However, people struggling with severe stains and discolouration can prefer the teeth whitening services offered by dental specialists. It will help them get better and quicker results than other whitening options.Treatment Results for People Who Have Veneers or Crowns
Teeth whitening gels are made to work on tooth enamel specifically. Therefore, your veneers, crowns, and bridges do not change colour when applying the gels.
Since most veneers, crowns, and dental fillings come with the natural colour of your teeth, they may stand out after the teeth whitening. Your dentist will confirm this during the teeth whitening and advise you on replacing any existing restorations.
Effects Of Excessive Teeth Whitening
Though teeth whitening will help restore your teeth’ aesthetics, frequent whitening can affect the health of the teeth. Do not apply teeth whitening strips daily for a few years or go for dental whitening services every two months.Teeth Whitening for People with Braces
People who go through orthodontic treatments may not get accurate results due to the placement of braces or aligners. Therefore, dentists normally request that they wait until the orthodontic treatment ends. However, if you require teeth whitening services, your dentists can still offer these to you. The whitening process with braces usually takes longer to complete and produces less effective results. If you choose a teeth whitening kit to do it at home, the whitening trays will come with space for brackets without making them dislodged. After the braces are removed, you might find the areas beneath the braces look yellowish or darker than other areas of your teeth. In such situations, your dentists can provide a touch-up treatment to lighten the discoloured areas.Who Are Not Advised to Go for Teeth Whitening
Though teeth whitening is ideal for stained and discoloured teeth, not everyone can have it for several reasons. As discussed earlier, pregnant, and lactating women are not encouraged to go for teeth whitening services.Children Under the Age Of 15
Teeth whitening services are not recommended for children below 15. This is because the nerve of the tooth or pulp chamber is enlarged at this age, and teeth whitening gel can cause sensitivity to the pulp.People Who Struggle with Gum Disease, Cavities, And Worn Enamel
People who suffer from gum disease, cavities, and worn enamel are not generally advised to go for teeth whitening. Instead, they should undergo treatments for dental issues and then go for the whitening procedure. The whitening solutions can enter the tooth’s inner layers through cavities and worn enamel and lead to tooth sensitivity. Individuals exposed to tooth roots cannot benefit from teeth whitening. The tooth roots have no enamel layer, and the whitening solutions can only produce results in teeth areas covered by enamel. Also, people allergic to whitening agents, especially peroxide, should not opt for teeth whitening services.People With Unrealistic Expectations
People who have severely stained teeth cannot expect excellent whitening results. Most teeth whitening treatments can offer you a reasonable level of whitening, which is slightly whiter than your sclera (the white part of your eyes).
Smokers should try to quit smoking to get better and long-lasting results after teeth whitening.
You should note that yellowish teeth produce excellent teeth-whitening results. Compared to this, brownish teeth have less effective outcomes, whereas purple or greyish teeth do not respond to the whitening treatment.
Do you know that the blue-grey stains caused by tetracycline (an antibiotic) are very difficult to lighten? It needs up to six months of home whitening or several in-office sessions to produce satisfying results.
