While you may have had pearly whites as a child, a lot of factors combine to reduce whiteness and result in staining. More people are looking into tooth whitening to improve their smiles. While brushing and flossing daily will keep your teeth bright and healthy, teeth whitening can give your mouth that extra sparkle.
Here are six things you should know about tooth whitening.
It Is Safe and Doesn't Harm Your Teeth
There is a huge misconception that teeth whitening may damage your teeth. However, if the dentist adheres to the best professional practice and follows all the instructions, tooth whitening uses active ingredients that temporarily open the pores in your teeth and lift stains. While teeth whitening can feel irritating to delicate teeth, this feeling is short-lived.
The dentist can give you an exceptionally safe product which is gentler on your teeth.
Tooth Sensitivity After Whitening Is Normal
Tooth sensitivity after teeth whitening is natural. Normally, the causes of tooth sensitivity are thin enamel, genetics, or damaged teeth. However, during the whitening process, you might experience some teeth sensitivity. However, it should disappear after a few hours.
Teeth Stains Don't Disappear Immediately
The teeth whitening procedure will not remove the stains overnight. The process involves the teeth absorbing the whitening ingredients. Therefore, the whitening duration depends on the extent of stains.
Once the teeth are white and bright, keeping it up is quite simple, as it only requires good oral hygiene.
Teeth Whitening Is Not for Everyone
Many people might need to get their teeth whitened; however, it's not for everyone. Some of the people who shouldn't get the procedure are pregnant women or nursing moms, youngsters, people prone to cavities, those with extreme tooth sensitivity and periodontal diseases, those with dental restorations and people allergic to peroxide compounds.
Teeth Whitening Is Not the Same as Teeth Cleaning
Teeth whitening and cleaning are two different procedures. Teeth cleaning helps remove deposits and plaque from the teeth and mouth. In fact, it can brighten your smile. You should schedule regular cleanings to maintain good oral hygiene. That said, teeth whitening is a different procedure.
It focuses on removing stains that are set into your teeth's surface.
It Is Long-Lasting
Teeth whitening can last a few years after the completion of the procedure. However, this time is heavily dependent on your life and the foods you consume. Foods that can cause teeth staining include coffee, tea, and red wine, due to their intense colour pigments called chromogens. Smoking can also increase teeth staining, along with age and medications.
Traumas such as blows to the mouth can cause your teeth to change colour. It can react to an injury by laying more dentin down, which is a darker layer usually under the enamel.
It's advisable that you do not try to DIY the teeth whitening procedure. Schedule an appointment with your dentist for proper care.
Share24 June 2020
Miranda Raff here. My brother is a stressed-out dental student, so I'm starting this blog on his behalf. I work in a travel agency and my brother is mortified by the number of dental tourism stories I bring home. I book short holidays for people who seem as though they are going to enjoy some relaxation in an exotic country, only to learn that they plan to have cheap dental procedures. Whilst there are good dentists in developing countries, according to my brother, the complex procedures these people plan to have simply can't be finished in such a limited time. This blog is an attempt to inform you about the high skill levels and advanced technology found in Australian dental surgeries. New techniques are being developed every year and Australian dentists are at the forefront of offering these solutions. I really hope this blog helps you to appreciate our dentists.
