You probably see an advert for some kind of teeth whitening treatment or toothpaste every day. It can be confusing to know whether or not you are a good candidate for teeth whitening and whether or not you can do it at home or should go to your dentist. A brighter smile can be a confidence booster, so you might want to explore your teeth whitening options with your dentist, who will talk to you about at-home products and the possibility of getting a procedure done.
Most people whose permanent teeth have come in can be a candidate for teeth whitening. Your dentist can help you determine how your teeth will respond and the best teeth whitening options for you. However, they are unlikely to recommend at-home whitening with over-the-counter kits as these products can carry risks. If you have dental work such as veneers, crowns or implants, certain teeth whitening options, both products and procedures, may not be available to you as they do not work on porcelain or bonding materials. But if your natural teeth are stained for whatever reason, there are some options available to you.
What teeth whitening treatments are available?
- Have your teeth cleaned by a dental professional to remove external staining caused by food, drinks or smoking.
- You can use a whitening toothpaste that can help remove surface stains between dental visits.
- To go a step beyond basic cleaning, you can use a whitening gel or whitening strips, if recommended by your dentist.
- You can choose to bleach. While mild products are available over-the-counter (OTC), visit your dental professional, who might suggest a bleaching gel to work on more stubborn stains or yellowing.
- They can create a custom mouthpiece for at-home bleaching. Whatever teeth whitening option you both decide on, use as instructed to achieve the best results.
- If you have more permanently stained or damaged teeth, your dentist may recommend veneers or bonding to fix irregular or damaged teeth or to achieve specific results.
What teeth whitening treatment should I use?
First and foremost, it is important to have a conversation with your dentist before trying any OTC product on your teeth. Various teeth whitening options work better for specific causes of stains.
- If your teeth are yellow, they may respond best to bleaching, while brown or grey teeth may not. If your teeth are striped or mottled from tetracycline or too much fluoride, they may not react or whiten evenly even when bleached. Bleaching is also not recommended if you have tooth-coloured fillings, crowns, caps or bonding in your front teeth — bleaching the materials used to make these products is not recommended as the colour of the restorative material will not change. If you have some natural teeth and some veneers or crowns, bleaching can lead to an uneven look and the unchanged colour of your dental work may stand out in your newly whitened smile.
- If you have periodontal disease or particularly sensitive teeth, you may want to avoid chemical whitening products and techniques, which can make teeth more sensitive and may irritate tender gums if they are not protected.
- If you have staining from medication that you have taken, or other causes and want to have a whiter, brighter smile, there are various options like porcelain veneers, which you can have placed over your natural teeth.
We know that a whiter, brighter smile is your goal, so the first thing to always consider is proper dental hygiene. This includes brushing with a whitening toothpaste after meals or drinking dark soda or coffee and flossing once a day. If those things aren’t giving you the confident smile you’re looking for, talk to your dentist and start working on a plan to bring out your best smile.
