Teeth Whitening: Important Things to Consider

INTRODUCTION:

The Bible states in Genesis 49:12, "His eyes are dull from wine, And his teeth white from milk." In Song of Solomon 4:2, "Your teeth are like a flock of newly shorn ewes Which have come up from their washing, All of which bear twins, And not one among them has lost her young."

Although teeth whitening procedures have been around for over 100 years, its rebirth occurred in the mid-80’s. Commercially, it’s been beneficial for manufacturers and the demand for whiter teeth will continue to increase.

This article is not intended to explain the whitening process; it’s intended to give you advice on what to do and what not to do when considering this treatment.

1. Don’t put the color of your teeth above the health of your teeth. Make sure you do not have decay underneath your enamel (it’s often painless and at times, hard to see) because if your teeth are decayed, the whitening agent can cause harm.

1. Avoid using non-ADA (American Dental Association) approved whitening agents. They may do the job faster, but will damage your enamel because of the heavy amounts of acidity they contain.

1. An in-office whitening system should only be used in-office and by an experienced professional because protecting the gums is necessary before applying the whitening agent.

Note, do not touch the whitening agent with your tongue or fingers during the procedure. A practitioner should stay in the room with you until the very end of the treatment to make sure this doesn’t happen.

Removing the whitening agent is just as crucial as applying it. It’s important you don’t leave your dentist’s office with burned gums. And please, do not take home an in-office whitening agent and do it by yourself (even if you’re a dental hygienist or a dentist) because you can hurt yourself.

Using the "light" during the procedure has been shown to have a slight impact, but we all use it anyways. My personal opinion? It adds to the efficacy of the procedure.

Over the counter whitening agents work well. Some are better than others because the ingredients that bleach the teeth are oxygen molecules. Again, make sure you see the ADA approved seal on the package and be sure to follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.

1. Please don’t over do it. Much like losing weight, you can’t starve yourself for a weekend and immediately lose 10lbs. This type of process takes time and patience. If your teeth are dark and have been dark for a long time, you can’t make them white overnight.

Younger people have more sensitive teeth so I do not recommend an aggressive whitening procedure. It’s much safer to do it gradually.

Foods that stain the teeth should be avoided. Additionally, tea, coffee and wine should be used with caution. I recommend rinsing the mouth often with a glass of water. Staining from food is more common than from drinks because they stick to your teeth. If you’re interested in learning more about this, please take time to research it on your own. There are a ton of articles about this online!

UNDERSTANDING COLOR

Avoid ending up with multiple colors of teeth. Crowns, fillings and porcelain veneers will not change in color, only your natural enamel will. Products that claim to whiten artificial teeth tend to be false advertising. This is why it’s imperative to have a professional consultation with your hygienist first before doing the procedure.

I advise my patients to whiten their teeth first if they need crowns, fillings or veneers. Otherwise, they will bend up with mismatched teeth and eventually, unhappy with their results.

Your teeth are not monochromatic. Note, teeth near the gum line tend to be darker because the enamel is thinner. Additionally, upper and lower teeth are not the same color as well as, the front and back teeth. When you whiten your teeth, you whiten the enamel portion that covers the tooth. Applying the agency to the second layer of the tooth can cause harm.

Most manufactures make their own color guides, and exaggerate them on purpose to prompt you to whiten your teeth. Please be mindful of this. What a dentist uses as a guide is different from a manufacturer’s guide.

CONCLUSION

Teeth whitening works, but not for everyone. If you’re one of them, please consider veneers or crowns. Note, thin ceramic veneers placed over discolored teeth will appear dark since the background of the veneer plays an important role in the overall color of the teeth.

My recommendation? Do your homework and seek professional advice to whiten your teeth. Above all, please do not harm your teeth!

Dr. Gregory Boyajian, CDT, MDT, DDS - www.smilepalmbeach.com