21 Jul Is Teeth Whitening right for me?

Is Teeth Whitening Right for Me?

Teeth whitening is the process of bleaching teeth to lighten their colour. While teeth whitening is not designed to make teeth stark white, it helps to lighten the original colour to great extent. The process of teeth whitening is categorised under dental treatments and should only be done by a dentist or qualified dental professional (dental therapist/hygienist). Even though certain beauty salons may offer teeth whitening, it is not recommended that you undergo the procedure at salons as it might be risky for your oral health.

The effects of teeth whitening can last for up to 3 years, but the results vary person to person. The effect is not long-lasting for those who smoke and eat/drink products which stain teeth. It is important to consult your dentist who will check your teeth whitening suitability and recommend an appropriate treatment.

Why teeth whitening

Over the years, as you grow older, your teeth will tend to become darker in colour. It can be partly attributed to age, and also to certain foods and beverages that you consume. Other harmful habits such as smoking, drinking excessive amounts of tea, coffee, red wine and other foods which have strong colouring effect can impact the colour of your teeth. Antibiotics may also play a role in darkening the teeth.

There are hardly any people who have perfectly white teeth and most opt for a teeth whitening procedure at some point in their lives. There are certain questions you can ask yourself to check your teeth whitening suitability: Are you happy with the colour of your teeth? Is it the colour of all your teeth or are only certain areas discoloured?

Teeth whitening suitability

On the other hand, there are people who naturally have teeth with a slightly more grey shade while others may have teeth with white spots on them. It could be a result of an illness at the time of formation of the tooth or early tooth decay. The colour of your teeth can also be affected by tartar. In some people, the area under the enamel surface might be stained or the teeth could have tiny cracks that may attract stain accumulation.

Porcelain crowns, veneers, bonding and other kinds of fillings may not be suitable for whitening. Ideally, teeth should be whitened by a cosmetic dentist prior to getting any noticeable ‘tooth colour’ work done.