What You Need to Know About Teeth Whitening
Who doesn’t love a dazzling white smile? Everyone loves to have bright teeth that shine like stars. For this purpose, people try teeth whitening products and treatments.
As the popularity of teeth whitening treatments grows, there has been a surge in untrained and unlicensed procedures. If you are considering a teeth whitening treatment, it is critical to know the options, efficacy and risks of these procedures. In this post, we’ll educate you about teeth whitening.
1. Safety First
For teeth whitening, there are several options available. There are bleaching toothpastes and kits, holistic remedies as well as in-chair procedures. However, before trying any remedy, patients should check whether the procedure is approved, safe and carried out by a professional in a clinical environment.
Many teeth whitening products can be purchased online. Although less expensive, they pose a risk to a patient’s health because they may contain excessive amount of bleach. Similarly, teeth whitening treatments conducted in beauty shops or salon can also pose a risk to a patient’s safety. Therefore, patients should only go to a registered dentist for a teeth whitening treatment.
2. Teeth Whitening Isn’t Suitable for Everyone
Teeth whitening procedures can work well for most people and results can be impressive. However, for certain patients, these treatments aren’t suitable. For instance, bleaching agents won’t be effective on teeth of patients who have bridges or crowns, cosmetic bonding, porcelain veneers or other dental restorations.
It’s also important to know that while whitening procedures are completely safe if carried out properly, they can cause sensitivity to pressure, touch and temperature and gum irritation. Sensitivity and gum irritation is temporary and patients will eventually feel normal.
3. Teeth Whitening Doesn’t Affect Enamel
Some people think that whitening products affect the tooth’s enamel. That is not the case. Only surface stains present in pores of the teeth are removed by these products. The bleach doesn’t penetrate within teeth.
4. Teeth Staining Results From…
Red wine and dark drinks like coffee and tea are mostly responsible for staining the teeth. Chemicals in coffee and tea can turn the teeth yellowish while red wine stains the teeth because of the purple color of grapes used to make the drink. Cigarettes are also a culprit for staining teeth. People who want to ensure that their teeth stay white after the teeth whitening treatment should refrain from smoking and reduce the number of cups of coffee or tea they consume every day.
5. Flossing Is Essential
After a teeth whitening treatment, patients should avoid consuming dark-colored foods and drinks for 48 hours. These include tea, coffee, red wine, etc. Following the treatment, enamel stays porous for some time and these items can easily penetrate within enamel and affect the teeth. It’s also important for patients to practice oral hygiene. They shouldn’t just brush their teeth but also floss before bedtime and after meals.
If you’re looking to have your teeth whitened by an expert, contact Younts DDS today!