Keep it Light, Keep it Bright, Make it Stay
There really is no better time to talk about tooth whitening than the holidays.
There really is no better time to talk about tooth whitening than the holidays. Every time we whiten someone’s teeth it is like giving them a present! The look of delight and joy at the end is unbeatable. It is by far my favorite dental procedure. It is one of the few times that people come excited to hop into the dental chair and they always leave feeling younger and more confident.
So, you’ve got questions about whitening? We’ve got the answers.
Will it damage my teeth? The answer to this is no. Whitening works by opening up the pores in your tooth and lifting stain. The active ingredient in all whitening products is hydrogen peroxide. Think of pouring hydrogen peroxide on something dirty…it bubbles. So, the stain hops a ride on those bubbles and leaves your tooth. Hydrogen peroxide does not permanently damage any part of your tooth.
Does it hurt? For some, tooth whitening can cause some sensitivity. The side effect of opening up the pores on your tooth is that hot and cold can travel more readily to the nerve for a couple of days. We always place a desensitizer prior to whitening treatments to help prevent this. With desensitizer, only 8% of people have sensitivity, and if you do, it is completely gone within 2-3 days after you stop bleaching.
Can I just use Crest White Strips? The long and short is yes, BUT it depends on how quickly you want that result. As I said, all bleaching products use hydrogen peroxide, but the concentration of the solution is what varies. Over the counter bleach strips use 10% hydrogen peroxide in a strip that is not well adapted to your teeth. If the bleach carrier is not well adapted, there are proteins in your spit that can seep in and deactivate the bleach, rendering it ineffective. With in office bleaching, you get custom whitening trays (designed just for YOUR teeth) with a seal, we use 16% at home solution and then you come in for a 1 hour treatment with 34% hydrogen peroxide. This gives you that boost that you are looking for!
How often do I have to bleach to keep my teeth white? We recommend “touching up” 1 time per month. With an in- office whitening, you already have those coveted custom trays in your hand, so is all you have to do is buy bleach refills.
How much does it cost? In office bleaching ranges anywhere from $400-$700. I know that sounds like a hefty investment. It does, however, give you fast results and an easily maintainable result. Your smile is priceless.
Is there anything I cannot eat or drink while whitening? Sadly, yes. This is the hardest part for most of my patients! For 48 hours after an in-office whitening treatment we recommend not eating or drinking anything that would normally badly stain a white shirt. Remember those pores we just opened up on your tooth? We don’t want to shove red wine and coffee down into them! So, for the best result, just wait it out for 2 days. And if you can’t, use a straw!
How white can I get my teeth? WELL, that depends on your teeth! Teeth with a truer yellow shade bleach more easily. But even, for those of you with greyish teeth or tetracycline staining, help has arrived with newer bleaching protocols. You can easily expect your teeth to lighten 2 shades. What we always aim for is to achieve the same whiteness as the white of your eye. If the shade of your teeth matches the white of your eye, people will perceive your teeth as sparkling and light.
Will my crowns or veneers bleach? No! Don’t let anyone scam you into thinking so. If you have a lot of existing dental work, you can still whiten any of your natural teeth, but you should discuss replacing your old dental work to a lighter shade prior to bleaching for a full treatment plan.
Can everyone bleach? You should not bleach if you are pregnant, but you could consider it as a good push present! Other than that, yes, everyone can bleach. I do not recommend bleaching to patients with active, unfilled cavities though since it can cause increased sensitivity. We want a healthy mouth to show off those pearly whites!
Why are my teeth getting yellower? Oh the joys of getting older. As we age, the enamel, that nice outer, crispy white part, starts to thin and the yellow inside (dentin) part of the tooth shows more. With that, our teeth look yellower. Whitening can help offset that and bring back a youthful, vibrant smile.
Treat yourself this holiday season and give your smile an upgrade. Come visit us in the office and meet all of our smiling nutcrackers. They are a constant holiday inspiration :)