Pros and Cons to Consider Before Teeth Whitening

Many of our patients at Danforth Village Dental Care come in to look for long-lasting solutions for whitening their teeth. Usually, it is after several failed attempts of teeth bleaching at home. Only after trying out professional teeth whitening in East York, ON, will you fully understand why it is far much better than any other teeth whitening remedy at home.

What Is Teeth Whitening?

It is a process of removing stains and any pigmentation on teeth to brighten their appearance. Sometimes you need teeth whitening for general yellowing of your teeth. However, some people need professional teeth whitening to get rid of stubborn stains, especially on their front teeth.

Cause of Discoloration in Dentistry

Teeth typically lose their luster over years. The color of your teeth when they first erupt will not be the same ten years later. A number of reasons can cause the discoloration of your teeth, including:

1. Enamel thinning – happens due to aging, where the enamels of your teeth wear out over time. Since the dentin, the second layer of your teeth, is duller than the enamel, your teeth will lose their whiteness.
2. Medical conditions and medications – certain drugs and health issues can tamper with the calcium in your body and even discolor your teeth.
3. Dental cavities and tooth decay – when a tooth begins to decay, it becomes brownish or black along the lines of cavity formation.
4. Foods and drinks – some foods we consume are heavily pigmented, which leaves an extra coating on your teeth, best removed by brushing. However, if you are not careful to brush your teeth regularly, these pigments may form permanent stains on your teeth.
5. Plaque and tartar buildup – is common among patients who slack on regular dental hygiene protocols.

Incredible benefits of teeth whitening

Whether you are bleaching your teeth for cosmetic reasons or to remove stubborn stains from your teeth enamel, whitening your teeth will have the following benefits:

1. Drastically improving your aesthetic appearance – Teeth whitening performed by a dental expert will leave your teeth up to 4 shades whiter than the initial color of your teeth. You can trust that everyone around you will notice the drastic change in the color of your teeth.
2. Improving your oral hygiene – a crucial element in whitening teeth comprises a clean mouth. A dentist may even recommend having a deep cleaning session first before any bleaching process can begin. The removal of plaque and tartar from your teeth will leave your mouth cleaner than it has been for years.
3. Creating the necessary motivation to excel in dental health – once your teeth are white and glowing, you will not want to imagine the alternative of neglecting your teeth ever again.
4. Combatting deterioration of your teeth enamels – once your dentist notices that your enamels have been thinning out progressively over time, he/she will come up with a tailored treatment plan to restore the strength and structure of your teeth.
5. Fast and effective results – one of the primary advantages of getting your teeth professionally bleached is that you enjoy instantaneous results. By the time you are leaving the dentist’s chair, usually in under 45 minutes, you will notice a significant improvement in the appearance of your smile.

The downsides of teeth whitening procedures

Although there are advantages to bleaching your teeth, you will want to be well aware of the complications and risks associated with teeth whitening procedures. The common ones include the following:

1. Increasing the sensitivity of your teeth – this will occur On the first few days after your treatment. The dental works involved in bleaching teeth can be invasive, leaving your teeth feeling more sensitive than usual. However, your dentist in East York, ON should prescribe a special toothpaste to help manage hypersensitivity for the first few weeks.
2. The results are not permanent – even when you whiten your teeth professionally, the results will not last a lifetime. Your dentist will recommend coming in for a repeat procedure every six or 12 months. You may need to opt for dental veneers or composite bonding procedures in cosmetic dentistry for a more long-lasting solution.
3. Some stains do not respond well to enamel bleaching, which may require that you try out other solutions to mask the dental flaws you have.