Do you also feel ashamed of flashing your pearly whites, because, well, they don’t exactly look white? Your teeth might look yellowish, or they may even have a brownish color, and this greatly affects your self-esteem. If correctly explains your situation right now, we will give you everything that you need to know about teeth whitening.
Teeth Whitening or Bleaching (as what we call in Dentistry), is the process of changing the color of your teeth, may it be for individual teeth (Non-vital Bleaching) or for the entire arch (Vital Bleaching).
Should I Get Teeth Whitening?
The short answer is, it depends. The reason why you should consult a dentist first before using teeth whitening products, especially if you are doing it in your own home, is that not all individuals can have their desired effect after using these products.
To explain this further, the reason why your teeth or your tooth is darker or has discolorations on its surface can vary. Your teeth might look darker because you might have old restorations that have to be fixed. Perhaps you have cavities in between your teeth which causes that kind of appearance. Or maybe, you have an underlying genetic condition that could’ve affected the color of your teeth.
If the reason why you have tooth discoloration is dental caries (which could appear as white, brown, or black), there is a high chance that teeth whitening can just increase the contrast of your teeth, making it more obvious.
Careful planning with your licensed cosmetic or esthetic dentist should be done before buying the teeth whitening product that you want to use or getting into a dental chair to have your teeth bleached.
What are the different types of teeth whitening
In-Office Tooth Whitening
In-Office Tooth Whitening or Chairside Tooth Whitening makes use of Hydrogen Peroxide Gels or Power Bleach Gels to whiten your teeth. This is done by a licensed and trained dentist in their clinic.
To give you a picture of what would happen when you opt for this treatment; the dental clinician will first diagnose your condition and assess whether you are a good candidate for In-Office Tooth Whitening.
Once that is done, clinical pictures will be taken on a ‘Before’ basis, and then safety protocols will be applied before commencing with the procedure.
Your teeth will be thoroughly cleaned and examined, and you would need to go through scaling and polishing first before starting the bleaching or teeth whitening process.
The clinician will then isolate your teeth and apply the solution on the labial surfaces of your teeth and curing lights will be placed to activate the bleaching agent used and make the whitening process faster.
At-Home Tooth Whitening
If you do not have the time or resources to go to your dentist and have your teeth bleached, you can also choose at-home teeth whitening products that you can purchase online or at your nearby pharmacy.
These products may come as hydrogen peroxide strips that you would have to put on the surface of your teeth, or they could come in gels with a tray fitted to your teeth where you would have to load the gel on the tray and put the tray in your mouth and leave it there for at least 2 hours.
The only difference between this method compared to in-office teeth whitening is that the results of at-home teeth whitening can occur within 2-6 weeks after using these products every day or every night for an entire week.
At-home teeth whitening does not produce instant results, and repeated use of these could increase the sensitivity of your teeth.
What is the best thing to whiten my teeth?
The best thing to whiten your teeth would depend on the cause as to why your teeth get discolored.
Tooth discoloration caused by pulp necrosis can be fixed by root canal treatment, and more often than not, restorative treatment is enough for the discoloration caused by carious teeth.
However, if the discoloration of your teeth is caused by genetic disorders, metabolic diseases, or other extrinsic causes like medication, smoking, or drinking beverages that could stain your teeth, you can consider teeth whitening or bleaching as a treatment for these conditions.
Can yellow teeth become white again?
Yes, yellow teeth can become white again, especially if the discoloration on the surfaces of your teeth is caused by oral pathologies and not because of the normal structure of your teeth.
Some people have yellower teeth compared to others because of the natural translucency of their enamel, so undergoing dental bleaching can only do so much.
However, as stated earlier, if your teeth became yellow because of your smoking habits, the food that you eat, the beverage that you drink, or perhaps because of the root canal treatment that you previously went through, this can be fixed with teeth whitening.
Can I whiten my teeth at home?
Yes, teeth whitening products are available in various pharmacies and even online stores and they are FDA approved, which makes them safe for you to use.
However, you should still be cautious in using them as not all discolored teeth should be treated with teeth whitening solutions.
You can purchase these products if you want, but you should still try and seek the advice of a dentist as to what should you use for your teeth.
Are teeth whitening OK for your teeth?
Yes, teeth whitening is OK for your teeth. As a matter of fact, some patients come into the clinic just to have their teeth whitened, or to consult a dentist as to which product is best to use to whiten their teeth at home.
However, you should be wary of all the side effects that you will go through once your teeth have been bleached. You can feel sensitivity on your teeth after doing this procedure, or you can even damage your enamel and dentin if this is not done right.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, teeth whitening can be an effective way to improve the color of your teeth. However, it is essential to consult a licensed dentist before undergoing any teeth whitening procedure, whether it’s an in-office treatment or using at-home products. A dentist can assess your specific situation, determine the cause of the discoloration, and recommend the most suitable treatment option.
