Some cringe when they hear the words “teeth whitening” because they feel that the process requires bleaching the teeth with some strong chemicals until the teeth shine, and they believe that it is not a safe process.
Yes, teeth whitening was once done using a file and acid. The good thing is that science has long evolved beyond such archaic means, and teeth whitening today is a far cry from what it used to be. This article shares important facts about teeth whitening that everybody should know.
Teeth whitening is totally safe
The safety of teeth whitening is, however, dependent on how you got your teeth whitened. If your teeth whitening was performed by a licensed professional, it is totally safe. Professional teeth whitening uses forms of peroxide such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide as the active ingredients. As these ingredients are broken down, oxygen gets into the enamel on teeth and lightens their colour.
Your teeth have pores, just like your skin.
Shocking, right? Yes, though your teeth are the most durable and damage-resistant part of your body, they also have microscopic pores like the surface of your skin, but even tinier. These pores are responsible for colour change in teeth in that when you eat, the pores open up and absorb the colour of the food you eat, thus changing the colour of your teeth.
Charcoal does not whiten teeth.
No doubt you would have heard at one time or the other that activated charcoal is excellent for dental care. You might have also heard that all you need is to apply a toothpaste made from activated charcoal and scrub your teeth for a few minutes for a couple of weeks, and voila! You have whitened teeth.
While activated charcoal has positive effects on teeth, it also has its downsides. Activated charcoal is abrasive on teeth, and if it is used consistently, it may damage the enamel, which is the part that gives teeth their white look.
You may require more than one session to get the smile of your dreams.
The natural colour and genetic makeup of your teeth are set at birth. However, the accumulation of stains on the teeth from years of eating will cause their colour to change. Because teeth accumulate these stains over decades, expecting everything to come off in one teeth whitening process may be a little too ambitious.
For safe and effective teeth whitening, expect more than one session with your dental care professional, knowing that each session takes you closer to the smile of your dreams.
You are not out of the woods.
Yes, it may take more than one session to get you where you want to go teeth-wise; but you are not free from stains forever when you get your desired outcome. Teeth whitening does not last forever; as long as you eat and drink, stains will accumulate again, and you will need to maintain your teeth, and thus your smile after you get it. Maintenance may include a follow-up teeth whitening session after some time. Watching what you eat, how you eat it and having regular dental visits help you maintain your teeth.
Thinking of getting implants or veneers?
If you find that you need a veneer or implant, you may want to consider getting your teeth whitened first before the veneer or implant. Veneers or implants are usually whitened to match the shade of your natural teeth, and they also resist chemicals in whitening gels. So if you get them before you whiten your teeth, you will end up with teeth that are whiter than your implants or veneers. Huge negative in the smile department!
Professional teeth whitening is not as expensive as you think.
Getting your teeth professionally whitened is not only healthier for your teeth, but it’s also not as expensive as doing things yourself. When you go for do-it-yourself or over-the-counter solutions, you risk exposing your teeth to harm, which will cost you more to fix. However, when you get professional teeth whitening, your dentist will create a custom whitening tray that will fit into your mouth, as it is made just for you.
The custom tray will take the size, shape, and specific yellowing and discoloration of your teeth into account and fit perfectly, giving you an even teeth whitening. Over-the-counter teeth whitening trays are typically one-size-fits-all and may result in your getting teeth that are not evenly whitened.
Get whiter teeth faster.
Our Zoom! Chairside Whitening System is a scientifically advanced tooth whitening procedure that gives you effective solutions in much less time. With Zoom whitening, you get dramatically whiter teeth in just over an hour!
Give us a call 204-663-5000 or reach out to us online and let’s schedule a session for you.
