5 Little-Known Tooth Whitening Secrets

There are several tooth-whitening systems available today. Knowing which one is best for your or whether tooth whitening is even something you should try, however, depends on your expectations and circumstances.

To help you decide whether tooth whitening is right for you, review these five little-known secrets and then talk with your dhealth cosmetic dentist.

Tooth Whitening is the #1 Cosmetic Treatment Requested

According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, most people agree that a whiter smile is not only an “important social asset,” it enhances career success. Additionally, the American Dental Association suggests that tooth whitening (sometimes referred to as tooth bleaching) “has become one of the most popular esthetic dental treatments.”

Tooth Whitening is Not Right for Everyone

Tooth whitening is not a process for everyone. Here’s why, according to the Australian Dental Association.

First, some people find that the process causes tooth sensitivity or pain. Factors such as receding gums or tooth decay may be the cause. Next, consider the effectiveness of the process. The whitening process won’t change the color of veneers, crowns, bridges, or fillings. Finally, factors such as your age, whether you smoke, or whether you drink a lot of coffee can affect the outcome of tooth whitening agents.

Tooth Whitening Works Best on Yellowing Teeth

What many people don’t realize is that certain teeth whitening easier than other teeth. Specifically, tooth color can range from yellowish brown to greenish gray. Experts have found that yellow-brown teeth tend to be more responsive to bleaching agents.

Professional In-home Tooth Whitening Works Best

Although many feel that tooth whitening requires a trip to their dhealth dentist to get the best results, many over-the-counter whitening products work quite well. One of the most important factors to remember, especially when using an in-home treatment with whitening trays: make sure the tray fits your mouth properly. Poor fitting trays can allow the tooth-whitening agent to leak. This may cause gum irritation or the treatment to be less effective.

Tooth Whitening Does Not Last Forever

Lifestyle factors play an important role in the success of your tooth whitening treatment, as does the whitening method you use. For instances, whitening toothpastes use non-bleaching agents to merely remove surface stains through gentle polishing, while in-office whitening treatments whiten using hydrogen peroxide in concentrations as high as 35 percent.

Depending on the method you choose, you may need to repeat the process in a year or two. For those who smoke or drink stain-producing beverages, you may need a touch up even sooner.

Whatever choice you make regarding tooth whitening, talk to your dhealth cosmetic dentist. He’ll want to conduct a thorough exam and help you determine the best tooth whitening process for you.

3 Factors that Influence Effectiveness of Tooth Whitening

You’ve decided it’s time to talk to your dentist about whitening your teeth. However, you’re unsure it’s right for you. Will it really make your smile as radiant as you hope?

Many factors – controllable and uncontrollable – influence tooth whitening. For that reason, actual results will vary by dental patient. Here are three factors that you should consider and discuss with your dhealth cosmetic dentist before deciding on tooth whitening.

Current Color of Your Teeth

When it comes to whitening your teeth, where you start has a lot to do with where you end up. It is a well-documented fact that yellowish teeth respond better to whitening than grayish or brownish teeth. The grayish color is generally caused by medications, such as tetracycline, whereas the brownish hue commonly occurs due to too much fluoride use.

However, even between dental patients with a yellowish color to their teeth there can be differences in level of whitening. Experts believe that each person has their own unique whitening level.

Regardless, to get the best results have your dhealth dentist clean your teeth before starting any whitening treatment. Otherwise, surface stains may affect the results.

Whitening Process Utilized

As we mentioned in our previous post, “Make Your Smile Shine with Tooth Whitening,” there are three basic tooth-whitening processes. Each uses a whitening agent. However, the percentage of whitening agent used varies.

Specifically, the higher the concentration of whitening agent used, the faster the results. That’s why over-the-counter treatments take longer and fade faster. They utilize a lower level of whitening agent. However, a higher concentration also means a greater risk of tooth and gum sensitivity.

Therefore, it’s important to speak with your dhealth cosmetic dentist prior to any tooth-whitening treatment. Additionally, follow all procedures according to directions including how to apply the agent and how long to leave it on. This will help minimize any risks.

Oral Habits Afterwards

Once you’ve completed your whitening treatment, that’s not the end. To maintain a healthy, bright smile requires maintenance.

Just like before your whitening treatment, it’s important to thoroughly brush and floss your teeth. That includes brushing at least twice and flossing at least once daily. Additionally, you’ll need to visit your dhealth dentist on a regular basis to get a professional cleaning. This will help you keep your smile looking good longer.

Finally, watch what you eat and drink. Acidic or dark food and drink such as citrus, tea, coffee, and wine can stain and erode your teeth. So can tobacco products and chewing on foreign objects like the tip of a pencil. Think before you put something in your mouth. Don’t destroy the beauty of your smile.

The Before and After of Tooth Whitening

Your smile is an asset. "When someone has a big smile, it shows they’re willing to open up and expose a part of themselves," says Pamela McClain, DDS, a past president of the American Academy of Periodontology. The difficulty is in keeping your smile looking white and bright.

Tooth whitening, sometimes referred to as bleaching, is probably the most common cosmetic dental procedure requested by dental patients today. If you’re thinking of talking with your dhealth cosmetic dentist about an in-office or at-home tooth whitening procedure, here are a few facts to know beforehand.

Reasons You May Need Tooth Whitening

Although we all start our lives with sparkling, white teeth, here are five reasons why tooth color may change.

• Stains. Long-time consumption of food and drink such as red wine, coffee, blueberries, and carrots, can cause stains.
• Tobacco. The nicotine in smoking or chewing tobacco leaves brownish deposits on teeth.
• Medications. Some medications, such as tetracycline, may cause a grey or brown ribbon effect on teeth, particularly in young children.
• Grinding. People who grind their teeth are apt to see more stains in the small cracks tooth grinding causes to teeth.
• Age. Over time, it’s natural for teeth to darken and accumulate stains. That’s why tooth whitening typically works best for younger dental patients. However, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to get worthwhile results in older dental patients. 

Another reason that teeth may appear to lose their vibrant color is due to thinning enamel. Enamel is the outer layer that helps to protect and insulate your teeth during daily use. What you eat and drink as well as genetics and medication have much to do with how your teeth wear. Unfortunately, your dhealth dentist cannot correct thinning enamel through tooth whitening.

Steps to Take to Maintain Tooth Whitening

It’s important to understand that tooth whitening will not make your teeth healthier or stronger. Additionally, it is not a permanent solution. Teeth may stain again if you continue to expose them to the substances that stained them previously. You’ll need to follow the same dedicated oral hygiene process – daily brushing and flossing – that you followed prior to the whitening procedure.

Moreover, your dhealth cosmetic dentist may recommend you:

• Stop smoking immediately
• Avoid eating certain foods that can cause stains or weaken your tooth enamel
• Sip dark-colored beverages through a straw, specifically aiming the straw at the back of your mouth and away from your teeth
• Rinse immediately after consuming stain-causing beverages or foods
• Continue using an at-home treatment, such as whitening toothpaste, to remove surface stains and yellowing
• Check with your dental professional to see if you need a touch up 

Before you decide that tooth whitening is right for you and to ensure the best tooth whitening results possible, talk to a cosmetic dentist.

5 Cosmetic Dentistry Options for a Great Smile

Your smile is nice; however, you want it to be great. That may mean you’ll need some cosmetic dentistry work done to get it in tip-top shape. Here are five cosmetic dentistry options that may be right for your needs.

Tooth Contouring

This dental procedure involves reshaping a tooth to improve its overall appearance. Your dhealth cosmetic dentist traditionally uses tooth contouring to correct chipped, crooked, or pointed teeth, or to lengthen and shorten teeth. Additionally, in some cases your dental professional may suggest it as an alternative to braces.

Although the process is generally quick and painless, it does remove irreplaceable enamel. Be sure to discuss the procedure with your dentist thoroughly before you decide.

Tooth Bonding

If you have teeth that are decayed, chipped, cracked, discolored, short, or misshapen, or if you have spaces between your teeth or have exposed gums, your dhealth dentist may recommend tooth bonding.

This process involves applying a tooth-colored resin material to the tooth surface. Once reshaped and polished it looks as natural as the rest of your teeth. It’s probably one of the easiest and least expensive methods of giving you a great-looking smile.

Dental Bridges

Many times when dental patients lose a tooth, the dentist may recommend replacing it with a dental implant. However, your dhealth cosmetic dentist may recommend a less-expensive dental bridge.

Dental bridges are one or more permanent false teeth attached between two adjacent natural teeth. They fill up the area left by missing teeth. Unlike dentures, you don’t remove them. They can help reduce the risk of gum disease and correct your bite.

Dental Veneers

If discolored or stained teeth, spaces between your teeth, or worn, chipped, and misaligned teeth mar your smile, you may want to opt for porcelain or laminated dental veneers.

These thin tooth covers are custom made to the color, shape, and size you desire. Bonded to the front of your natural teeth, they can give you a fresh, new smile. After that, it’s up to you to keep it that way.

Gum Lift

Sometimes dental patients have what dental practitioners refer to as a “gummy smile” – when excessive gum shows causing teeth to look shorter. The normal width of unworn teeth is typically 75 percent to 85 percent of their length. To improve this length to width ratio, your cosmetic dentist may suggest a gum lift to raise and reshape your gum line.  

Generally, a gum lift is an elective procedure to improve the look of your smile. However, gummy smiles are sometimes the result of how teeth erupt or your jaw develops leading to bite issues.

If you want to bring harmony to your overall dental health and smile, talk with your dhealth cosmetic dentist to find out if any of these five cosmetic dentistry options are right for you.

Make Your Smile Shine with Tooth Whitening

If your smile is beginning to look a bit dingy, it may be time to talk with your dhealth dentist about whitening your teeth.

The Process of Tooth Whitening

People sometimes refer to tooth whitening as bleaching. However, they’re actually different processes.

Bleaching is a process that actually whitens teeth beyond their normal color because the product used contains a strong bleaching agent. Tooth whitening, on the other hand, is the process of returning teeth to their more natural color. Even some toothpaste is capable of whitening.

There are three types of tooth whitening processes as well as benefits to each: 

• Over-the-Counter Dental Whitening. By far the least expensive of the trio, over-the-counter tooth whitening products involve the use of bleaching gels with lower levels of the whitening agent. They typically involve trays, strips, or a paint-on application. 

• At-home Dental Whitening. Your dhealth cosmetic dentist may provide you with an at-home tooth whitening kit. Some experts suggest this is the best of the three because of the at-home convenience, lower-level whitening agent, and cost. Using a less concentrated gel means you can keep it on your teeth longer – even overnight – without harm. 

• In-Office Dental Whitening. If you prefer you can have your teeth whitened in the dental office by a cosmetic dentist. The primary benefit is the significant color change in a short period. The treatment costs more than the other two and it’s important to protect your gums, as a stronger whitening agent is used. 

Whichever tooth whitening process your dentist decides is best for you know there is a limit to how much you can whiten teeth. Normally, teeth whiten two to seven shades depending on individual circumstances.

Tooth Whitening Does Have Risks

While tooth whitening is safe when done properly, there are certain risks dental patients need to understand. 

• Tooth sensitivity. This usually occurs with in-office whitening where the whitening agent concentration is the highest. 

• Gum irritation. Some people have experienced gum irritation from the whitening product or rubbing of the bleaching trays. 

• Color variation. Some people refer to this as “Technicolor teeth.” It occurs because the material used in tooth bonding, crowns, and veneers doesn’t change color but natural teeth do. You may need to have them replaced. 

Keep in mind that even after you’ve whitened your teeth, you must take proactive steps to keep them that way. Additionally, you may not see the full results of the whitening until a few weeks after the process.

If you want to make your smile shine, speak with your dhealth cosmetic dentist to gain a thorough understanding of the tooth whitening process. For more information on tooth whitening, check out this report from the American Dental Association.