Teeth Whitening: The Basics

We all want bright, pearly, white teeth. However, as we go on with our daily lives, our teeth can become more yellowish than white. As we enjoy those cups of coffee and glasses of red wine, pigments may attach to our teeth and make them less bright. Tobacco is another main culprit behind yellowing teeth. Even age, medications, and trauma can cause discoloration. Teeth whitening is now offered by many dentists to solve this problem.

How It Works

Teeth whitening is simply a process of bleaching the teeth using either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. These agents break down stains, lessening the color and brightening your smile.

It May or May Not Work for You

Since there are many causes of discoloration, you should talk to your dentist before going on with the treatment to ask if it will work for you. For example, if the yellowing is due to medicines or injury, then it will not. Some people also naturally have teeth with tones of yellow, brown, or gray. While yellow teeth may bleach well, the other two colors may not do as well.

Whitening Choices

There are now many methods of whitening that you can choose from. You can try dentist-approved stain removal toothpastes, which remove surface stains but do no harm to the teeth. You can also try chairside bleaching at the dentist’s office, where the dentist will apply protection to your gums and then bleach your teeth. If you prefer doing the whitening at home, the dentist can also prepare a custom-made tray for you to put on at home for a few days or weeks. If you are feeling adventurous, you may also try whitening strips or over-the-counter bleaching kits. Just make sure these are dentist-approved and certified.

If your dentist doesn’t offer the service you want, then go online and search for “dentist near me.” There may be practitioners near you that provide your whitening service of choice.