Who doesn’t love a shining, white smile? Tooth whitening is one of the most requested dental procedures each year, as almost everyone will experience yellow teeth or discoloured teeth at some point. For instance, if you regularly consume coffee, red wine, or tea, you may get stains. Discolouration can be caused by tobacco products or smoking, certain medications, natural ageing and dental trauma.
The good news is that many of these stains can be removed with tooth whitening at Burwood Dental Care. You may be wondering if teeth whitening is appropriate for your particular situation. This blog post will highlight what you need to know about teeth whitening. So, read on to learn more!
Content Navigation
- 1 What is Teeth Whitening?
- 2 Types of Teeth Whitening Treatments
- 3 What Happens During an In-Office Teeth Whitening Treatment?
- 4 Benefits of Teeth Whitening
- 5 Is Teeth Whitening Safe?
- 6 Who is a Candidate for Teeth Whitening Treatments?
- 7 How Long Does Teeth Whitening Last?
- 8 How to Take Care of Whitened Teeth
- 9 What to Eat and Drink After Teeth Whitening
- 10 How Many Teeth Whitening Sessions Do You Need
- 11 What to Expect After Teeth Whitening Treatment
- 12 Can You Whiten Your Teeth with Crowns or Veneers?
- 13 What are the Possible Risks and Complications of Teeth Whitening Treatment?
- 14 The Cost of Teeth Whitening Treatment
- 15 Final Thoughts
What is Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is a safe and efficient cosmetic treatment for lightening stained teeth. Whitening has been used in dentistry for many centuries.
Moreover, teeth whitening is one of the most popular optional dental procedures due to its low cost, high effectiveness, and quick results.
Many people spend money on whitening procedures to improve their appearance and boost their confidence. Whitening your teeth is also less expensive than other cosmetic procedures (like veneers).
Every patient’s treatment success is different. Everyone’s teeth have unique opacity, transparency, gloss, and fluorescence properties. Some individuals need more treatments to show improvements, while others need fewer
Types of Teeth Whitening Treatments
In-office treatment
A quick-acting in-office whitening treatment may be effective. Moreover, the whitening effect may last longer. Often, whitening your teeth requires only an hour of treatment or a few visits. This is because the applied products contain a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide than the items you use at home. In-office treatments are indicated if you also have receding gums or abfraction lesions.
Your dentist may potentially utilize light to accelerate the process while applying the whitening substance to your teeth, but this procedure has not consistently been demonstrated to be effective.
Take-Home Kit Treatment
Dentists can also assist you with at-home tooth whitening. The dentist may create trays that are custom-fit to your mouth. You will add a gel to it and wear the tray for 30 minutes to an hour every day (as prescribed by a dentist) for a few weeks to whiten your teeth.
Teeth whitening products and other at-home options
To aid with stains on teeth, you can use over-the-counter (OTC) whitening solutions. Unlike goods prescribed by a dentist, these counter products contain no carbamide peroxide or significantly less than those prescribed by dentists. This means that if your teeth are genuinely stained, over-the-counter teeth whitening products may not be as effective or take longer to function.
Certain over-the-counter medications bear the American Dental Association’s Seal of Acceptance. Not all products bear this seal, and some without it are still safe to use, but this seal is intended to instil greater confidence in your purchasing decisions and ensure the things you use are safe.
When using a product, always follow the manufacturer’s directions.
- Whitening toothpaste
Carbamide peroxide is not used in whitening toothpaste. Rather than that, these toothpastes use a range of ingredients to target the tooth surface, including abrasives and the chemical blue covarine. While whitening toothpaste takes time to work, those containing blue covarine may be effective after just one brush due to the chemical’s ability to make your teeth appear whiter.
- Whitening strips
Additionally, you can purchase over-the-counter teeth whitening strips. These products contain less hydrogen peroxide than professional products. You apply them to your teeth once or twice daily for the duration specified by the manufacturer. Numerous whitening strip options are available, each with a different bleaching agent concentration.
- Activated charcoal and other home-based methods
You might be interested in trying homemade teeth whitening solutions. One such treatment is activated charcoal. These techniques have not been scientifically proven to whiten teeth and should be addressed with a dentist before attempting them. If you employ these treatments without first contacting a dentist, you risk causing damage to your teeth.
What Happens During an In-Office Teeth Whitening Treatment?
Before beginning your in-office whitening procedure, you will have a professional dental cleaning to remove plaque and hardened tartar from your teeth. The dentists do this not just because plaque and tartar stain your teeth slightly, but also because you will obtain more significant results from your whitening treatment if your teeth are as clean as possible before the treatment.
After cleaning your teeth, the gauze will be placed in your mouth to keep them dry. While the whitening gel is safe for your teeth, it may irritate the sensitive skin on your lips, cheeks, and gums. As a result, the dentist most likely utilizes retractors to help you relax your jaw throughout the treatment while preventing the whitening solution from getting into contact with the delicate tissues in your mouth. The dentist will also apply a protective barrier to your gums before administering the whitening gel to the front surface of your teeth.
A specialized light is utilized to activate the gel on your teeth, resulting in better, faster results. You can watch TV or listen to music while the whitening process takes an hour. Furthermore, while some patients fear that their whitening treatment may be painful, it is not. You might feel a tingling sensation or warmth from the light, but it shouldn’t harm you! When your teeth whitening treatment is finished, your teeth will be rinsed, and you will be ready to go home with a brighter smile.
Benefits of Teeth Whitening
Regardless of how hard we try to avoid it, some degree of tooth discolouration is unavoidable. Fortunately, there are several solutions for restoring the brilliance of your smile. While you may think of whitening treatments as primarily aesthetic, the process could have several advantages. Here are a few benefits of teeth whitening:
Increased Confidence
It is essential to feel good about yourself. If you’re self-conscious about your teeth, it will affect your overall confidence. Insecurity about your appearance can creep in and limit your potential, whether you’re at work, speaking in front of a crowd, or on a date.
Teeth whitening can provide an instant confidence boost in many circumstances. Not only will you be able to smile without hesitation, but whiter teeth can also communicate to others that you take care of yourself and care about your look.
Better Oral Hygiene
The benefits of whiter teeth can impact your dental hygiene. You may feel more encouraged to take good care of your whiter and brighter teeth after the treatment, making it a point to brush, floss, and attend your six-month preventative dentist checkups. Oral hygiene (or lack thereof) can even impact your general health, making it all the more helpful.
Convenience
The benefit of teeth whitening is that it can be done on your schedule. While you may believe that professional teeth whitening necessitates further visits to your dentist, that’s not the case if you use at-home teeth whitening products.
These custom trays, which your dentist provides, can be used at home, allowing you to keep a bright and attractive smile on your own time. Your dentist can provide a complimentary touch-up kit at your routine six-month preventative appointments to help keep your teeth looking their whitest and brightest.
Quick and low-cost
Getting the desired effects from an over-the-counter whitening product can take more than a month. It also necessitates that you apply the treatment daily. Instead of wasting time and money on unreliable results, seeing a dentist for teeth whitening can have you walking out of the clinic with a brighter smile within hours.
A Reliable Option
When you choose dental treatment for teeth whitening, you can rest assured that the health of your teeth is a top priority. Numerous over-the-counter solutions can be useful, but they can cause adverse effects such as increased sensitivity, gum irritation, enamel erosion, and uneven colouration if they are not used properly. It’s best to consult with a dentist first before undertaking any of these choices.
Is Teeth Whitening Safe?
Although tooth whitening is typically safe for children, some hazards are involved. Many tooth whitening strips, for example, contain a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide. It can help whiten teeth, but it can also cause tooth sensitivity when used in high doses regularly. Even adults could experience the same.
Most dentists agree that teeth whitening should be done no earlier than age 14-16. Many pre-teens do not have all of their permanent teeth yet, so it’s best not to undergo teeth whitening until all adult teeth are present and there are no longer any baby teeth in a child’s mouth.
However, there might be possible risks, and most dentists do not recommend whitening for pregnant women.
What’s the harm? The main reason is that pregnancy can create several changes in a woman’s dental health, making teeth whitening impractical or complicating the process. Among these changes are the following:
- Teeth lose from high amounts of estrogen and progesterone in the body.
- Morning sickness, which allows stomach acid to contact the teeth, increases the risk of tooth decay and demineralization.
- A greater risk of cavities and gum disease as a result of hormonal changes, changes in dental hygiene, and pregnancy-related dietary cravings that result in higher levels of plaque and oral bacteria.
While it is possible to have your teeth whitened while pregnant, most dentists advise women to avoid non-essential dental operations until after their kid is born. This reduces difficulties and assures your and your child’s safety.
Whitening is also not recommended for individuals who have chronic sensitivity, periodontal disease, oral cancer, or tooth enamel that has been overly worn and damaged. Translucent teeth may deteriorate with each whitening application and should be terminated immediately. Before considering any whitening technique, it is recommended that cavities be treated and gums are healthy.
Who is a Candidate for Teeth Whitening Treatments?
If most of your tooth discolouration is due to tooth stains, you will almost certainly benefit from a whitening procedure. To determine the stains more firmly, schedule an appointment with your dentist for a consultation and examination for a treatment plan. Furthermore, you can learn more about the treatment and the specific benefits you might expect for your smile.
Patients can undergo treatment with minimal risk since the whitening gel is applied to and absorbed by the enamel and does not affect the dental soft tissue. Any side effects should subside within a few days, and as long as patients do not have many successive treatments, teeth whitening should not cause permanent tooth discolouration.
Nonetheless, the ideal candidates have healthy teeth and sufficiently thick enamel. If a patient’s enamel is weak or eroded, they may be uncomfortable after treatment. Additionally, whitening gel on damaged teeth may further fracture the enamel, exposing the sensitive and darker dentin tissue beneath. Speak with your dentist to learn whether your teeth can safely be treated through professional whitening.
How Long Does Teeth Whitening Last?
The duration of your teeth whitening results is partially determined by the type of whitening solution used by the professional dentist. Although whitening agents are typically hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, quantities and procedures vary. Given the variety of whitening solutions available, the average teeth bleaching effect lasts six months and three years. However, in most instances, individuals have results that last approximately one year.
How to Take Care of Whitened Teeth
If you have just completed professional teeth whitening treatment, you’re interested in protecting your investment and extending the life of your beautiful, perfect smile. To maintain your healthy new smile’s whiteness and brightness, it’s essential to follow a few basic guidelines:
- Maintain proper dental hygiene by brushing and flossing after each meal.
- To avoid stains, avoid drinking coloured beverages such as red wine, coffee, cola, or tea immediately after treatment and whenever possible.
- When drinking dark-coloured beverages, use a straw to avoid the liquid coming into contact with your teeth and staining them.
- For several weeks after whitening, avoid foods high in pigment. Berries, dark chocolate, soy sauce, and other dark-coloured meals can leave a staining residue.
- Rinse your mouth with a light tooth whitening mouthwash after eating to remove any food or debris that may cause stains and to keep your breath fresh.
- Avoid wearing lipstick or coloured gloss for at least one week after a whitening treatment because your teeth will be sensitive and lipstick may leave pigments that discolour your teeth.
- Use whitening toothpaste to improve your results and extend the life of your treatment.
- To keep your teeth healthy and brilliant, eat a well-balanced diet and drink plenty of water.
A whitening smile may instantly brighten your face and erase years from your appearance. By following these simple guidelines, you can extend the life of your teeth whitening treatment and enjoy the benefits of your new, bright smile.
What to Eat and Drink After Teeth Whitening
There is a long list of approved products, but here is what to eat after teeth whitening:
- Turkey, chicken, or white fish
- White rice, pasta, or bread
- White cheese
- celery or cauliflower
- Peeled or mashed potatoes
- Apples or green grapes
Stick to clear liquids, but water and milk are the best choices after your treatment. However, tap water is preferable since it includes fluoride, which is beneficial for tooth health.
How Many Teeth Whitening Sessions Do You Need
When it comes to teeth whitening, it’s essential to note that the amount of bleaching required is proportional to the stain on the teeth. Three to four weeks is the average duration of a professional teeth whitening procedure.
First, the dental team must create an impression of the mouthguard to guarantee that the teeth whitening solution reaches all teeth. Once the treatment begins, which is often done in the comfort of one’s own home, the whitening substance is boosted regularly for two to four weeks. The amount applied will vary according to the amount of stain. Typically, these treatment sessions last between 30 and 60 minutes. The alternative to dentist-created whitening trays and solutions is to schedule an in-office treatment at the dental office. In most cases, in-office treatment can be completed in one or two visits, and results can be seen within a few hours.
Teeth whitening kits purchased over the counter or at home often take at least a month of wearing mouthpieces every night before they begin to work. Furthermore, over-the-counter medications use mouthpieces that may only reach the gums and do not completely cover the teeth.
What to Expect After Teeth Whitening Treatment
While teeth whitening presents few inherent dangers and complications, patients should anticipate some discomfort in their teeth and potentially gums following treatment. This is because the active ingredient, hydrogen peroxide gel, removes stains from teeth. Although the effects are temporary and typically modest, you should know what to expect after the whitening procedure :
The intensity of tooth sensitivity
After treatment, teeth should be expected to have increased sensitivity for a day or two. Most people can manage their sensitivity by taking over-the-counter pain relievers and avoiding hot or cold foods and beverages. Individuals with tooth sensitivity before treatment are more likely to feel discomfort. They may choose to explore a take-home whitening kit rather than in-office treatment, as the gel has lower concentrations of hydrogen peroxide per application.
Gum sensitivity
If the whitening gel comes into contact with gum tissue, a brief yet irritating chemical burn may occur, but there is no need to panic. The gums may appear discoloured and burn for a few hours, but they should recover completely within the first or second day. Accidental gum contact with the gel can be significantly reduced or avoided entirely with professional treatment by an experienced cosmetic dentist. This is facilitated further by a well-fitted dental tray, which prevents the gel from spilling onto the gums.
Can You Whiten Your Teeth with Crowns or Veneers?
The short answer is no since standard whitening treatments do not work on porcelain or most bonding materials. It is practically impossible to whiten veneers, dentures, crowns, or implants once they are in your mouth.
However, it is feasible to whiten prosthetic products before installation. Porcelain prosthetics are extremely stain resistant, retaining the same colour regardless of the meals and beverages to which they are exposed. Thus, if you whiten your prostheses in advance, you may count on them to eternally retain their colour.
Veneers and other non-porcelain prostheses may discolour depending on the material’s porosity. Plastic prostheses are prone to discolouration over time but can be whitened with a simple dental polish.
What are the Possible Risks and Complications of Teeth Whitening Treatment?
Some potential risks and complications of teeth whitening procedures include the following:
If you have sensitive teeth, you may experience discomfort.
Suppose you already have sensitive teeth or experience discomfort when certain foods or beverages are consumed. In that case, you may experience discomfort or pain when the bleaching solution is applied to the surface of your teeth. Inform your dentist of your sensitivity so they can offer goods such as special toothpaste to help minimize this risk and boost your comfort throughout your operation.
You may become more sensitive to hot and cold weather.
Furthermore, you may experience greater sensitivity to hot and cold foods and beverages following your teeth whitening operation; this is quite normal. This is usually temporary. However, using sensitive teeth toothpaste may help alleviate the discomfort.
You may experience tingling sensations.
Experience a sensation similar to a mild electric shock when you bite down on your newly whitened teeth. This could potentially be a side effect of the bleaching agent used during your dental operation. Take note of the location and timing of these tingling sensations so that you can communicate them precisely to your dentist during your follow-up appointment.
Your teeth may become inflamed.
Bleaching and whitening your teeth may result in pulp inflammation, particularly if cracks or fractures damage them.
Irritation is a possibility.
Bleaching solutions can irritate and burn your skin, gums, and even your eyes if they come into contact with them. Notify the dentist immediately and rinse with water gently as needed.
Your throat or stomach may hurt.
Take care not to swallow the bleaching agent throughout the whitening treatment. This will irritate your throat and stomach, which can result in serious medical consequences in certain situations.
These complications often resolve within 48 hours of your surgery. Consult the dental professional to determine the best course of action to relieve these adverse effects. Though it is uncommon, seek medical assistance immediately if your symptoms persist or become more severe.
The Cost of Teeth Whitening Treatment
The answer to this question is conditional on the status and shade of your teeth at the time. Bear in mind that you must obtain approval from the dentist before using any whitening solution. You must schedule a consultation to receive a checkup and cleaning. If you have cavities or symptoms of decay, they must be treated before bleaching treatments can be used in your mouth.
During your dental cleaning, the dentist will remove any surface stains, plaque, and tartar from your teeth and polish them to maximize the effectiveness of the whitening system. After you’ve completed all of this, you’ll consult a professional dentist to determine the present shade of your teeth and then choose which shade you’d like to lighten too.
During this session, you will receive an estimate of how long it will take to brighten your smile and the associated costs.
Furthermore, the overall cost of a teeth whitening procedure with one dental visit in Victoria, Australia, may range between $199 and $220.
Final Thoughts
Teeth whitening is not as easy as applying the treatment, waiting for it to work its magic, removing it, and revealing a beautiful smile. To achieve an optimal shade of whiter and have the treatment penetrate the colour of the tooth enough to change its shade, the situation has to be approached correctly.
At Burwood Dental Care, we strive to build long-lasting, healthy, and joyful smiles. Our team provides various dental services that are tailored to your specific needs and budget. If you’re interested in whitening and brightening your smile, call us at +61 3 7003 2075. We will answer any questions you may have and make expert recommendations on achieving all of your smile goals during your consultation. Our office utilizes cutting-edge technology to guarantee that you receive the best effective treatment. Everyone, we believe, deserves to benefit from the life-changing benefits of a bright, healthy smile. Reach to us now. We’re excited to hear from you!
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