Teeth Whitening 101: All You Need to Know

When you have yellow stains on the teeth, it can make it hard to smile. Furthermore, it can give an impression that you have poor oral health. Fortunately, you can get teeth whitening treatment near you, and remove the stains and improve your smile.

What Causes the Teeth to Change Color?

As much as we would like to assume otherwise, our teeth are not bright white, but they have a pearly shade of white. This shade tends to get darker as we age and because of certain factors that lead to the formation of stains. Some of the factors that can cause the teeth to change their shade include:

• Poor dental hygiene causes plaques to accumulate on the teeth. Plaque is a sticky film that can cause the teeth to appear yellow.
• Age. As we grow older, the enamel erodes and becomes thinner. This will expose the dentin, which is yellow or brown.
• Medication and treatments like chemotherapy and radiation can also cause the teeth to darken.
• Gum disease

What Teeth Whitening Options Can You Use?

Teeth whitening can be done using at-home whitening products or at the dental office. These cosmetic whitening products are readily available at your local drug store. And, they come in different versions like toothpaste, gels, and mouth rinses. These products may not be effective in whitening the teeth because some contain low levels of the whitening agent. There are, however, teeth bleaching products designed by dentists such as Spotlight dental care that offer different whitening products like pens and toothpaste.

You can also get your teeth whitened at the dental office, and it is the most effective and safe version. This is because the dentist will take precautionary steps to protect the gums from bruising.

How is the Professional Teeth Whitening Done?

Professional teeth whitening in Markham, ON, is done in about 45 minutes. The dentist will first clean the teeth to remove any plaque buildup and apply the protective gel on the gums to protect them from bruising. The whitening agent is applied to the teeth and left for 15 minutes before rinsing it out. This process can be repeated two to three times depending on the severity of the stains on the teeth.

Does Teeth Whitening Treatment Work?

Yes, if done at the dental office. Professional teeth whitening involves using products with higher levels of bleaching agent, which penetrates the inner layers of the teeth. Our professional teeth whitening can remove both intrinsic and extrinsic stains.

However, the whitening results are not permanent and they can last for about a year depending on your habits. You can make the teeth stay whiter for longer by changing your dental habits. Also, avoid or limit your consumption of staining foods like wine, coffee, and tea.

Will Teeth Whitening Damage Your Teeth?

No, but you may experience tooth sensitivity for a couple of hours after the treatment. Our Markham dentist will recommend tooth-sensitive toothpaste to reduce the discomfort. It is also crucial to avoid taking hot or cold foods a few hours after your whitening procedure.

Are Baking Soda and Activated Charcoal Effective?

Some people prefer doing teeth whitening at home using the D.I.Y products. The commonly used products include baking soda and activated charcoal. A few websites suggest that these products whiten the teeth, but, no research available can support the claim. Yes, using baking soda can remove mild teeth stains, but long-term use can leave the teeth weaker. This is because its abrasive nature can erode the enamel.

Lemon and banana peals have also been used to whiten the teeth. However, the use of lemon increases acidity in the mouth which affects the teeth. They may also cause the teeth to darken, further worsening the problem.

If you want to whiten your teeth at home, talk to the dentist about using the take-home kits. These are customized to fit your teeth, however, they are ideal if you have mild to moderate dental discoloration.

Schedule an Appointment

Visit New Delhi Dental for more information about teeth whitening and what you can expect during and after the bleaching procedure.