7 Facts About Teeth Whitening That You Should Consider

Teeth whitening is among the most important aspects of your good-looking smile. It has been a part of cosmetic dentistry for a long time now. Many people have made it a part of their dental care. It’s a simple step that can completely transform your smile and make you more confident about it.

Whitening seems to be the most popular cosmetic dentistry service, are there are also many at-home options you can choose from. According to Statista 40,5 million Americans used tooth whiteners in 2018.

People in the United States cares about beauty a lot. In fact, one research shows that cosmetic dentistry procedures have increased with 300% over the last 5 years. 53% of adults said that if they could fix one thing about their smile it would be the whiteness of their teeth.

However, 57% don’t believe that teeth whitening products offered in stores are as effective as a procedure done by a dentist.

Statistics show that the appearance of the smile is very important to people. That’s why we are going to talk about one of the most used cosmetic dentistry services and some things you need to know before considering teeth whitening.

What is teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening is an effective way of lightening the color of your teeth, without removing surface. It doesn’t change the color completely, but only lightens the existing shade. Teeth whitening helps to remove stains or discoloration.

It’s a one-time procedure that you’ll need to repeat periodically if you want to maintain the same brighter color.

The most common method of teeth whitening is professional bleaching. It involves applying a whitening product to your teeth using a special tray that fits into your mouth. Hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide is usually the active ingredients in that product. As they are broken down, oxygen gets into the enamel of the teeth and their color is made lighter.

This procedure is considered safe by the U.S. National Institute of Health.

Now that we gave a definition of teeth whitening let’s have a look at some things that you need to know before your whitening appointment:

Your teeth might be more sensitive right after whitening

Many people have naturally sensitive teeth. That’s usually caused by damaged teeth or thin enamel. It is completely normal for your teeth to get sensitive during the whitening process, as they are temporarily dehydrated and that makes them vulnerable to changes in temperature. This sensitivity is supposed to disappear only about a day after whitening.

Teeth whitening doesn’t damage your teeth

You’ve probably seen some articles about how bad it is to whiten your teeth. That is completely false. Teeth whitening is absolutely safe as we already mentioned above. However, abuse of any kind can be damaging. Don’t overdo it as teeth need their time to remineralize and rehydrate. Follow your dentist’s advice and you’ll be just fine.

Your teeth absorb

Teeth have pores just like your skin. The colors of food you put into your mouth will be absorbed into these pores. The shade of your teeth gets darker over time, due to stainings form coffee, wine or berries for instance. Teeth whitening is the only way to get rid of these stains and provide your teeth with a brighter shade.

Not everyone can get perfectly white teeth

The natural color of your teeth is genetically set at birth. Whitening products can remove staining, but can’t change your teeth’s color. You can have your teeth cleaned and brightened, but they’d still be your teeth.

Crowns and dental veneers can’t be whitened

Crowns and veneers are created to match the color of your natural teeth. Once the material is applied it can neither be stained nor whitened. Teeth whitening doesn’t affect the color of dental crowns or veneers, but can be done on the rest of your natural teeth and won’t cause any damage.

Make sure you choose the right dentist

Finding the best cosmetic dentist can be a tough process. There are many offices that provide cosmetic dental services, but make sure you choose a good one as it really takes an experienced one to provide you with the desired results.

There might be side effects

We’ve already mentioned tooth sensitivity. That’s the most common side effect you can get from teeth whitening. Another side effect of bleaching might be small white spots on the surface of a tooth. However as the sensitivity, this is also temporary, so this procedure really has almost no side effects.

Professional vs. at-home teeth whitening

Teeth whitening can be a rather expensive service, which makes many people choose kits or gels for home use. However, dental treatment is a way faster and more effective solution. It usually lasts about an hour and provides you with up to five shades brighter teeth. Keep in mind that professional teeth whitening can also be used against bad breath which is something very convenient.

On the other hand with the home treatment, you have to be very patient as you may have to use it for weeks in order to get visible results.

Aftercare

In order to keep your teeth white for longer, you’ll need to cut down on the number of drinks and food that stain them most. Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Also, consume less sugary drinks or foods. Of course most important is to keep your regular visits to your dentist and follow his recommendations.

Conclusion

Teeth whitening is definitely a great way to improve the appearance of your smile and boost your confidence. It’s an easy and fat cosmetic dentistry procedure and also an extra step in your oral health care.

There are lots of home treatments you can choose from but a visit to your dentist will provide you with the best results in no time. Now that you know that it is completely safe, you can go and get yourself the brightest smile.