Teeth Whitening
Teeth Whitening: Your Guide to a Brighter Smile
A brighter smile can boost your confidence, but teeth naturally become discoloured over time. Fortunately, there are several easy teeth whitening options available to help reduce stains and have shinier teeth.
Whether you’re considering at-home teeth whitening or a professional teeth whitening procedure performed by a dentist, understanding the available treatments can help you choose the option that best suits your needs.
Home-Care Options
This includes the sticky strips you can purchase at your local pharmacy or the gel-filled trays. Both options are easy to obtain and use, and both do a great job of removing stains.
These products usually contain bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Both ingredients work to eliminate the particles that cause a yellowing effect on your teeth stemming from:
- Coffee
- Tea
- Red wine
- Smoking
- Bad oral hygiene practices
Be patient with the at-home method. Some products may show results within days, while others require one to two weeks or longer.
Dentist Procedure
Professional teeth whitening allows your dentist to assess your teeth, identify the cause of discolouration, and recommend an appropriate treatment.
There are two common approaches: in-office teeth whitening and dentist-supervised whitening at home using custom-fitted trays.
In-office whitening may only take one treatment and often gives a longer-lasting effect. Depending on the treatment and your desired results, the procedure may take approximately 30 to 60 minutes, although some cases require additional sessions.
Dentist-supervised take-home whitening uses custom-fitted trays and whitening gel according to a personalized treatment plan. Results develop gradually over multiple applications.
How Long Does Teeth Whitening Take?
If you’re receiving in-office whitening, the treatment will often take up to an hour in one session.
At-home teeth whitening generally requires repeated applications daily over several days or weeks, depending on the product and treatment instructions.
Neither method produces permanent results. The longevity of your teeth whitening results depends on factors such as your diet, tobacco use, oral hygiene, and natural tooth colour.
Bond…Dental Bond
Dental bonding could be an option if all other methods prove ineffective due to deep discolouration. With a dental bond, a tooth-coloured resin will be applied to cover up the discolouration.
This option is quite affordable, but you will likely need to have the procedure redone every five to seven years. Dental bonding is also most effective when you do not have several discoloured teeth but rather just one or two.
Always Consult Your Dentist
The Canadian Dental Association strongly recommends that you always consult your dentist before deciding on either tooth whitening option.
Since you may be experiencing discolouration for more than one reason, you must find out the root cause before treating it.
While whitening is generally safe when used as directed, excessive or improper use may affect tooth structure and cause sensitivity or gum irritation.
Getting a proper consultation from your dentist is always the best option.
When Not to Use Bleaching
There are moments when bleaching your teeth should be avoided or may not produce the desired effects, such as:
- If your teeth are demineralized or have decay or cavities
- Tooth discolouration is caused by disrupted development, medications, or a physical alteration from a fall or sports injury
- Teeth whitening is not recommended during pregnancy because its safety has not been established in pregnant women. As a precaution, it is best to postpone whitening treatments until after pregnancy.
- Your teeth are affected by certain forms of enamel defects or significant sensitivity
- You have crowns, veneers, or fillings that could create a noticeable colour mismatch after whitening
Things to Help Avoid Yellowing
You can do a few things to help prevent unnatural discolouration to your teeth and avoid needing bleaching altogether. Limit your coffee, tea and any food or drinks that easily stain. If you do consume them, try to enjoy them in one sitting rather than sipping them throughout the day to reduce prolonged exposure to staining agents.
Other prevention methods include:
- Brushing your teeth twice a day
- Flossing regularly
- Quitting smoking
- Booking regular cleanings with your dentist
If you’re considering teeth whitening, the first step is understanding what is causing your discolouration and which treatment is appropriate for your teeth.
At ThirtyTwo Dental, our Edmonton team can help you explore suitable whitening options that work best for you and your oral health.
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