Say Cheese! Things to Know About Teeth Whitening

Think your pictures are not picture perfect? Are you not smiling wide enough in order to hide something? Is it your teeth? Stains or discoloration on your teeth can look unappealing, especially when it shows every time you smile and in most of your pictures. If you are of the opinion that ‘if it’s not white, it’s not right’, then you might want to consider teeth whitening.

What is teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening is a process to remove discoloration and/or stains that might be present on your teeth. It involves lightening your teeth to give it a more appealing look.

A majority of dentist can help you out if you require teeth whitening. If you need to maintain that brightness of your teeth, you might need to get your teeth whitened again and again from time to time.

How does it work?

There are whitening products available for your teeth. These products consist of one of the two tooth bleaches, namely, carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. What the bleaches do is that they decompose stains that might be present on your teeth into smaller pieces. This process results in a less concentrated color in addition to adding brightness to your teeth.

Is teeth whitening for everyone?

It is advised to discuss teeth whitening with your dentist before jumping on getting the procedure done. This is because whiteners may react differently to different colored teeth. For instance, brown teeth may not be as responsive an option as yellow teeth when it comes to bleaching. Teeth whitening does not work on fillings, crowns, caps, or veneers, if medication or injury is the cause behind the discoloration of your teeth.

The difference between teeth whitening and bleaching

Bleaching refers to whitening your teeth further than their natural color, when applicable. Whereas teeth whitening is a term used to reinstate the color of the tooth’s surface by getting rid of the debris or dirt.

What causes teeth to discolor or get stained?

Common factors that contribute to the staining or discoloration of the teeth include:

• The use of tobacco
• Neglecting the care your teeth require
• Aging
• Excessive intake of tea, coffee, cola, or other beverages of dark color

Consult your local Boise Idaho dentist at Mallard Family Dental Center to see what type of whitening is for you.