TEETH WHITENING-What you should know

Is teeth whitening for everyone?

Teeth whitening procedures performed in dental offices are safe, yet they are not suitable for everyone: Patients with overly sensitive teeth, patients who are pregnant or breast feeding, younger aged paitents who still have baby teeth, and patients with gum disease should avoid any whitening procedures.

Realistic expectations

Teeth whitening is essentially bleaching the enamel of the tooth.  In most cases it can only lighten the exsisting color by a couple of shades--it can't do miracles.  The natural color of a patients teeth is set at birth and the only thing a whitening product can do is remove stains which have developed over time.

Teeth Whitening is temporary

Dental offices offer different whitening treatments, patients should know that the results are temporary.  The UV light whitening treatments work by acclerating the whitening gel, making it do its job faster. Custom made whitening trays are an at home whitening system.  Both will result in whiter teeth, but the result is temporary and may need to be repeated in the future.  After whitening, patients should avoid highly staining food and drinks: coffee, tea, red wine, dark berries, smoking, etc.

Sensitivity after teeth whitening is normal

Over 60% of patients naturally have sensitive teeth due to genetics, thin enamel, or slightly damaged teeth.  So experiencing sensitivity during and after whitening is perfectly normal and expected.  Teeth become temporarily dehydrated during the whitening process, reducing their ability to insulate the nerve from temperature changes, causing sensitivity.  In some cases, it can cause extreme sensitvity.

It is best to consult with a dental professional to see if a teeth whitening procedure is suitable for you.