Teeth whitening can help give you the look you want. That's because our teeth play a big part in the way we look. Walking around with yellowish and discolored teeth can be unpleasant and unsatisfying. Teeth whitening helps you get rid of the feeling that you have to hide your teeth, your smile - and yourself.
But what considerations should you make before starting teeth whitening? And most importantly, is teeth whitening harmful? In this blog post, you can read more about teeth whitening and learn what you need to know before you contact your dentist for a possible teeth whitening treatment.
Teeth whitening on discolored teeth
Many people who experience discolored teeth are not happy with their appearance. Many want to get rid of the discoloration on their teeth by performing teeth whitening.
The yellowish deposits are often the result of your own eating and drinking habits. This can be due to frequent consumption of coffee, red wine, tea, tobacco, licorice and similar foods and drinks. An important part of maintaining the effects of teeth whitening is therefore to minimize the intake of such foods and drinks.
However, discoloration can also occur in accidents where teeth are struck. In this case, bleeding occurs inside the tooth itself and is deposited in the tooth as dark blood pigments on the outside. Finally, there are factors such as hereditary diseases or conditions during pregnancy that can also cause discolored teeth.
What does teeth whitening involve?
Teeth whitening is a cosmetic treatment that whitens teeth using a chemical process. Just as hydrogen peroxide is commonly used to bleach hair, it is also the substance used for teeth whitening.
The treatment is performed on the enamel of the teeth and requires a specific method to prevent the hydrogen peroxide from penetrating the teeth and reaching the nerves of the teeth. If this happens, it can cause unpleasant toothaches. That's why it's a legal requirement that teeth whitening with a hydrogen peroxide concentration above 0.1% can only be performed by dentists.
A teeth whitening tray containing a hydrogen peroxide concentration of less than 0.1% can be purchased legally. However, it does not have a significant whitening effect on the teeth. Do you want to make sure that your teeth whitening treatment has a professional, neat and painless result? If so, it is highly recommended that you do it with your dentist.
Teeth whitening should be reserved for your dentist
Before starting treatment, you can consult your dentist about whether teeth whitening would be a good idea for your teeth. Not all types of teeth can tolerate teeth whitening. For example, whitening can be difficult for people with periodontal disease, gingivitis, heavy tobacco and alcohol consumption, or if you have more serious, undetected dental diseases.
By having your teeth whitening treatment done at your dentist's office, you can get a check-up before the treatment begins. This can help you make sure that whitening is completely hassle-free for you.
If you are in a situation where it is not a good idea to whiten all your teeth, your dentist may advise you to whiten individual teeth.
Due to the previously mentioned risks and poor efficacy of 'do-it-yourself' teeth whitening at home, we strongly advise against it at our clinic. At best, it doesn't have the desired effect and at worst, it can cause dental problems and toothaches. In this way, you solve a problem by creating a new one. Therefore, always seek professional help from your dentist if you are considering teeth whitening.
Does teeth whitening damage teeth?
The short answer is that teeth whitening is not dangerous. However, it's safest to avoid "do-it-yourself" teeth whitening kits that either give poor results or cause more dental problems. On the other hand, teeth whitening at the dentist is completely safe.
You can feel safe with a dentist who understands what's good for you and your teeth and what's not. Your dentist will also be able to tell you how often your teeth can tolerate whitening. In most cases, it's not a good idea to have teeth whitening too often.
How does teeth whitening at the dentist work?
There are two ways to get help with teeth whitening from a dentist. Either you can have a one-off in-office whitening session or you can take a bite guard home with you. In the at-home whitening, you'll need to wear the tray over 14 days.
In in-office whitening, 30-40% hydrogen peroxide is applied to your teeth and then UV-irradiated. This type of whitening is done in one go and can be a disadvantage because you can't see how your teeth react to the hydrogen peroxide.
With home whitening, you whiten your teeth yourself. You'll be given a mouth tray where you put the whitening gel inside. The trays are made from an impression of your teeth. This ensures that all your teeth make contact with the whitening gel. You sleep with the trays for two weeks. During these two weeks, you can stop sleeping with the trays when you feel that your teeth have whitened enough.
After a teeth whitening treatment
Whitening your teeth doesn't mean you'll never need another whitening treatment. In other words, your whitened teeth will not become permanently white. However, successfully getting rid of bad lifestyle habits that affect your oral hygiene will help maintain the effects of teeth whitening for years to come.
Lifestyle habits that have the greatest impact on the durability of teeth whitening include smoking and coffee. It's important to curb these habits as the bleaching agent tends to absorb any dyes that get past the oral cavity.
What does teeth whitening cost?
Are you thinking about getting an affordable teeth whitening treatment for your teeth? Then contact Tandliv for teeth whitening with mouthguards from DKK 3,500. You are more than welcome to contact us for a no-obligation conversation about how we can help you.
At Tandliv, we know how important it is to have the teeth you want. We also know that teeth whitening can have a big effect on the aesthetic appearance of your teeth. That's why we always do everything we can to ensure you get a satisfying and professional result. See our prices here.
If you want to book an appointment at the clinic or have any questions, you are always welcome to contact us.
