A brighter smile is a more beautiful smile. If you are thinking about whitening your teeth to improve your smile, there are several things you should know first. We will discuss five.
1. Cheap, boxed whitening kits don’t work.
Over-the-counter whitening strips that you can buy at a drugstore or a super store just don’t work. Your teeth may seem to be a little whiter, but it won’t last. The strips can actually make your teeth rough and porous—like a sponge. These tiny openings allow stains in, and with time, your teeth will look darker than they were originally.
Besides that, the strips don’t stay on your teeth long enough to penetrate them and break down stains. Usually, the bleaching gel in the strips isn’t strong enough to do the job. Don’t waste your money or time on whitening strips.
2. If you’re pregnant or nursing, wait.
Professional teeth bleaching gel contains carbamide peroxide. Although whitening is considered safe for adults, there aren’t enough studies and evidence to determine if it is safe for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. The effect of bleaching gel on unborn and newborn babies is not clear. The American Dental Association recommends that mothers wait until after the delivery, and after your baby is weaned.
3. You can’t whiten your dental bonding or porcelain restorations.
Dental bonding, porcelain veneers, and porcelain crowns are all colorfast. Once your teeth have been restored with any of these cosmetic treatments, the color cannot be changed. Speak with your cosmetic dentist about polishing your bonding or porcelain restorations, and whether or not it can improve the appearance. Otherwise, your bonding, veneers, or crowns will need to be replaced.
4. It doesn’t work on fluorosis stains.
When a child (usually 8 years old and younger) takes in too much fluoride, his or her developing teeth will stain from it. Excessive fluoride in the water or excessive fluoride from supplements, when water is already supplied with it, can create chalky white or brown stains in tooth enamel. In severe cases, pits can develop in the teeth. Bleaching will not remove the stains. A cosmetic dentist can use dental bonding or porcelain veneers to restore your teeth.
5. You can over-bleach your teeth
It is possible to white your teeth too much. Over-bleaching your teeth will dry them out and make them darken. After a bleaching session, the whitening gel that has penetrated your teeth is still working for about two weeks, so give it some time before you begin another session.
Let your dentist supervise the whitening of your teeth to get the best results.
This post is sponsored by Sherwood Dental Care of Baton Rouge, LA, the office of Dr. Steven Collins.