Teeth whitening treatments have become increasingly popular. There is a variety of reasons why people choose to whiten their teeth. In some cases, patients want to look their best for an upcoming event or a job interview, while others want to reverse the discoloration that occurs as a natural result of getting older. According to a 2015 survey by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), teeth whitening ranked among the highest demand and most popular cosmetic dentistry procedure performed as reported by 351 dental professional respondents. Whatever your reason might be, teeth whitening treatments can boost your self confidence by helping you to look your best!
Based on your specific needs, your dentist will provide you with several treatment options and work with you to determine the whitening procedure that is perfect for you.
While teeth whitening can be safe and effective, using the wrong method can also lead to permanent damage to your teeth. Examples of the damage you could encounter when whitening your teeth using certain products or in improper ways include:
- Tooth sensitivity
- Etching of teeth
- Gum irritation
- Teeth appearing more discolored than before whitening
- Increased risk of tooth fracture
- Teeth absorbing more stains than before teeth staining
- Loss of protective enamel
For instance, if you lose enamel, your teeth will become sensitive and darker in color. To avoid these risks, it's best to opt for safe at-home tooth whitening options or professional teeth whitening from your dentist. Here is what you should know about how to whiten your teeth at home safely, as well as when it's time to see a dentist for a professional teeth whitening procedure.
How long does it take to whiten your teeth?
When it comes to teeth whitening, it is essential to understand that the amount of whitening necessary depends on the amount of stain on the teeth. Professional teeth whitening treatment typically takes three to four weeks.
First, the dental team needs to make the mouth guard using impressions to ensure that the teeth whitening solution goes on all the teeth. Once the treatment begins, typically from the comfort of home, it will involve regularly applying the whitening product over a space of two to four weeks. The amount of application can depend on the amount of stain. Mostly, these treatment sessions last for roughly 30 minutes to an hour at a time. The alternative to dentist-created whitening trays and solution is to visit the dental office for an in-office treatment. We can usually complete an in-office treatment in one or two visits and produce results within a matter of hours.
Over the counter and in home teeth-whitening kits tend to take at least a month of wearing mouthpieces every night before they start to have an effect. Additionally, over-the-counter products use mouthpieces that can get the solution on the gums, and not cover all the teeth.
Natural Teeth Whitening Methods
Everyone wants to enjoy beautiful, white teeth, but it's essential to avoid methods that could be damaging to your tooth enamel. Many home remedies for tooth whitening exist, and some of them are safer and more effective than others. If you're wondering how to whiten your teeth without damaging them, consider the following options:
Baking Soda: While some argue baking soda is too abrasive to use on your teeth, dental researchers have found it has a rating of seven on the Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) scale of 0 to 269. The RDA level tells you how hard (or abrasive) a substance is on your teeth. As long as you brush softly, baking soda can help gently remove stains from the surface of your teeth.
Whitening Strips: These home tooth-bleaching products mold to the shape of your teeth to whiten natural teeth. In June 2017, the American Dental Association (ADA) awarded Crest 3D White Whitestrips Glamorous White teeth whitening strips its seal of approval in showing safety and efficacy in natural whitening teeth efficacy. It’s the first product in this category to receive the ADA’s seal of approval.
Whitening Toothpaste: Because they contain low concentrations of carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide, whitening toothpaste can lighten tooth shades, but typically only about one or two shades. In their effort to reduce tough stains, whitening toothpaste can be abrasive, resulting in enamel erosion and dentin exposure over time. Whitening toothpaste typically does not contain bleach.
Whitening Rinses: Like whitening toothpaste, whitening mouth rinses can improve tooth color by up to one or two shades. They contain oxygen sources, like hydrogen peroxide, to lighten teeth. It can take up to three months to see just a one or two-shade improvement and involves rinsing your mouth twice a day for 60 seconds each time.
Tips for Keeping Your Teeth White
Along with eating the right foods, it matters when you eat them. To combat the staining effects of pasta sauce, for example, eat a salad first. Spinach and lettuce can create a temporary protective barrier on your teeth to guard against staining. Snacking on dairy, celery or nuts after drinking coffee or eating a stain-causing food can also help clean your teeth and prevent surface discoloration.
And of course, good oral hygiene is essential. No diet or home remedies are a substitute for regular brushing and flossing to remove plaque and cavity-causing bacteria from your mouth. Brush or rinse your mouth right after you’ve finished eating a stain-causing food or drink. You can also use a whitening toothpaste at least once or twice a week to prevent normal yellowing and surface stains.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Want to know how to whiten your teeth without damaging enamel? Professional teeth whitening options offer much faster results than at-home methods, and they can safely whiten your teeth without risking enamel damage. In general, you can take one of three routes.
At-Home Custom Tray
For the safest and most effective at-home teeth whitening method, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) recommends you use custom-fitted trays supplied by your dentist. Ill-fitting teeth whitening trays can cause the gel to ooze out and irritate your gums. With trays specially made to fit your bite and mouth, you avoid this side effect.
At-home whitening trays are a type of teeth whitening procedure that you can perform at the comfort of your home. This is an easy and cost-effective teeth whitening treatment that can be easily obtained. You must follow the instructions given by our dentist to see the results at home. Although they can be a convenient option, obtaining great results can take longer than other treatments and they don’t always work well for deep stains. These trays are custom made to go over your teeth and whiten your teeth through a special gel that is found on the inside of the trays.
These trays, once made for you, can be taken home as a teeth whitening kit, along with the guidelines given by our dentist. The time period that they must remain on your teeth can vary according to your teeth whitening needs. They can also be used several times to achieve the desired results. Our dentist can further advice on how many times they should be used in your case.
Custom whitening trays are clear and usually made of a plastic that comfortably adjusts when inserted. A hydrogen peroxide-infused gel is inserted in each tray. The gel consists of a hydrogen peroxide solution that actively whitens the enamel of the teeth.
After they have been used and removed, they need to be cleaned with a cotton swab or a cloth and rinsed. This makes them ready to be used again. It is not recommended to use them for at least a day after each application. Our dentist would be happy to further go into detail about the process during your teeth whitening consultation.
Bleaching
For deeper, intrinsic stains on otherwise healthy teeth, dental bleaching might be the best way to get whiter teeth. Often referred to as ‘teeth whitening’, dental bleaching works by breaking down stains that have occurred within the inner structure of the tooth. These stains are known as chromophores; chemicals that are found within certain food and drinks. As well as removing deeper stains, dental bleaching can remove surface stains and change the natural teeth colour to a much brighter shade.
Teeth whitening is an extremely safe procedure and will not cause any damage to the tooth’s enamel. In fact, dental bleaching is a completely non-invasive procedure. Here at Revitalise we offer a professional teeth whitening service, in which we combine in-house treatment with a DIY kit to offer you the best and most comfortable teeth whitening experience.
Ceramic crowns
Sometimes teeth that are badly stained or discoloured due to injury will not benefit from dental bleaching or will not achieve the desired result. The best way to get whiter teeth and to fix these cosmetic concerns might be with ceramic crowns. Using a ceramic ‘cap’, crowns are bonded directly onto your natural teeth by using a strong adhesive. Ceramic crowns have three common uses; to restore broken teeth to their correct shape, improve the way they look, and to help strengthen them. A ceramic crown will cover the whole of a tooth, ultimately becoming its new outer surface.
Veneers
Unlike a ceramic crown, a veneer is designed to cover the front of a tooth rather than the whole area. For this reason Veneers are often reserved for the front teeth which show when a person smiles and speaks.
Veneers are best used for severe Intrinsic stains where teeth whitening will not produce the desired result. It is important to note that Veneers are designed to match the colour of your other teeth. For this reason, if you desire a lighter shade, dental bleaching might be recommended before a veneer is placed. This is because bleaching will not work on a veneer.
Both Veneers and Crowns require partial removal of the tooth’s enamel which can make the underlying discolouration worse. Unlike dental bleaching, which corrects discolouration by breaking down chromophores, crowns and veneers are bonded to the natural teeth.
Whitening teeth is faster and easier when working with a dentist. Call your dentist to schedule an appointment or to learn more about what it takes to whiten your teeth.