Teeth Whitening
A bright, white smile can light up a room and boost your confidence, but daily habits can leave your teeth looking less than luminous. Coffee, tea, red wine, and even the natural ageing process can all lead to discolouration, leaving your smile looking dull and yellowed. Fortunately, professional teeth whitening is one of the most popular and effective cosmetic dental treatments available, offering a safe and reliable way to restore your smile’s brilliance.
If you are looking to erase stains and achieve a noticeably brighter smile, understanding your options is the first step. Professional whitening treatments provide results that over-the-counter products simply cannot match.
Why Do Teeth Lose Their Sparkle?
Before you can fix the problem, it helps to understand what is causing it. Teeth discolouration generally falls into two categories: extrinsic and intrinsic stains.
Extrinsic stains are on the surface of the tooth. These are usually caused by pigmented residues from food and drink building up in the film of protein that covers the tooth enamel. The usual suspects include:
- Coffee and black tea
- Red wine
- Cola and dark sodas
- Tobacco products (smoking or chewing)
- Highly pigmented foods like berries or curry
Intrinsic stains occur below the surface of the tooth. These are harder to treat and often result from trauma to the tooth, excessive fluoride use as a child, or the use of certain antibiotics like tetracycline.
Additionally, with time, as you get older, the outer layer of enamel naturally thins from wear and tear. This reveals the Denton underneath, which is naturally yellower in colour, giving the teeth a darker appearance.
Exploring Your Whitening Options
A lot of whitening products can be found in the market, but they generally fall into two types:
In surgery treatments and at-home solutions.
Professional In-Surgery Whitening
The dentist chair is perfect for quick and significant results. Professional whitening gels (usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide) are used in whitening treatments that aren’t available over the counter.
Even after using stronger agents to break down stubborn stains, your gums can be protected. Some treatments, like special lights or lasers are also used to activate the gel and speed up the process. You can often see your teeth jump several shades lighter in just one 60-minute visit.
At-Home Whitening Kits
With at-home whitening kits, a set of custom fit trays are made from digital scans of your teeth and used at home along with the whitening gels to slowly whiten your teeth, comfortably at home.
Is Teeth Whitening Safe?
Generally, teeth whitening is safe when protocols are followed. However, it has some side effects. Tooth sensitivity is the most common complaint that has been noticed. This usually goes away a few days after treatment stops.
Gum irritation is another potential issue, especially with ill-fitting strips or trays that allow the gel to leak onto soft tissue.
Whitening does not work on crowns, veneers, or fillings. If you have had restorative dental work on your front teeth, whitening your natural teeth might result in an uneven color match.
Maintaining Your New Smile
Maintenance is key after achieving your desired shade. To extend the life of your whitening treatment, you need to avoid drinking staining beverages like iced coffee or soda, or use a straw to bypass the front teeth. Rinse your mouth with water after eating acidic or pigmented foods, and maintain a rigorous brushing and flossing routine.
Teeth whitening is a fantastic way to boost your self-esteem, but it should always start with a conversation. Before buying a box of strips or booking a laser session, consult your dentist. They can assess your oral health, determine the type of staining you have, and recommend the safest path to a dazzling smile.
