“What Are Your Options if Traditional Teeth Whitening Doesn't Work? - Grace Dental Group ” (2024)

Lots of our patients at Grace Dental Group are interested in teeth whitening services. By brightening your smile, you can increase your personal confidence. Teeth whitening is a popular anti-aging procedure, as well.

But what if you’ve tried teeth whitening treatments before, with mixed or insufficient results? Woo Young Lee, DDS and the team at Grace Dental Group can help you understand why your previous attempts might not have yielded the results you want. We work with you from offices located in San Francisco’s Fillmore District to put together personalized treatment plans that can achieve the brighter smile of your dreams.

Why might your teeth whitening not have worked?

In some cases, your previous attempts at tooth whitening treatments may not have worked. You might have tried an over-the-counter whitening product or even had ineffective professional dental whitening treatments, yet you still noticed areas of discoloration in your smile.

If your teeth and gums aren’t in the best shape or if you’ve had a lot of previous dental work, both issues can affect your results with traditional teeth whitening treatments. You won’t be able to whiten either porcelain crowns or most commonly used dental bonding materials. And, if you’re suffering from gum disease, teeth whitening treatments will be uncomfortable, as well as possibly ineffective.

Make sure to get your regularly scheduled dental exam and cleaning before you start with teeth whitening treatments! If your teeth have too much plaque coating their surfaces, your teeth whitening results may not be all that you’ve wished them to be. You might need to schedule other dental work as well before you’re reading for teeth whitening treatments. Dr. Lee can advise you.

Professional whitening techniques for real results

Once your mouth is clean and in good health, the experienced professionals at Grace Dental Group offer excellent whitening treatments. Professional teeth whitening results tend to be many times better than at-home kits. If you’ve had disappointments before, make sure you’re going to get the results you want by choosing professional teeth whitening.

You may be able to benefit from professionally applied clinical bleaching solutions containing hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Dr. Lee can also use specialized lights to enhance your results, helping topically applied chemicals to penetrate through your porous dental enamel to address stains in the lower layer of your dentin.

Talk with Dr. Lee about your teeth-whitening concerns. If you have crowns, large fillings, or other dental or oral health issues that keep you from being a good candidate for professional bleaching, Dr. Lee can recommend potential alternate cosmetic treatment options. Your overall oral health has to come before the appearance of your smile, but your aesthetic goals for your teeth also matter.

You can schedule a consultation appointment with Dr. Lee at Grace Dental Group of San Francisco, California by giving us a call now or requesting your appointment online.

“What Are Your Options if Traditional Teeth Whitening Doesn't Work? - Grace Dental Group ” (2024)

FAQs

“What Are Your Options if Traditional Teeth Whitening Doesn't Work? - Grace Dental Group ”? ›

If you've had disappointments before, make sure you're going to get the results you want by choosing professional teeth whitening. You may be able to benefit from professionally applied clinical bleaching solutions containing hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.

What to do if teeth whitening doesn't work? ›

What Are Your Options When Teeth Whitening Does Not Work? When teeth whitening does not work on stains or spots, an advanced cosmetic dentist can improve them with microabrasion, dental bonding, or porcelain veneers. The treatment a cosmetic dentist recommends depends on the type and severity of the stains or spots.

Why did professional teeth whitening not work? ›

Teeth whitening treatments work best on healthy teeth and gums. If you have underlying dental issues like tooth decay, gum disease, or enamel erosion, it can affect the effectiveness and safety of whitening treatments. These conditions may require treatment before considering teeth whitening.

Why won't my teeth whiten no matter what? ›

Your Teeth Aren't Clean

You may not see it, but your teeth may have a dirty biofilm or layer of plaque buildup that is preventing the whitening agents from targeting your tooth stains. Consider teeth whitening after your next routine dental cleaning.

Why do dentists not recommend teeth whitening? ›

Tooth and gum sensitivity and pain

Store-bought products may contain abrasive substances like hydrogen peroxide, which can be effective if used minimally, but in large doses can cause erosion of teeth's enamel and shrinkage of the gums.

Why are my teeth not white enough after whitening? ›

Darkening or relapse of the tooth shade is expected after whitening. Relapse of shade occurs almost immediately as the freshly whitened dehydrated tooth rehydrates. Repetitive prolonged exposure of the chemical is the only way to achieve optimal results.

When can teeth not be whitened? ›

Anyone allergic to peroxide (the whitening agent) should not use a bleaching product. Gum disease, worn enamel, cavities, and exposed roots. Individuals with gum disease or teeth with worn enamel are generally discouraged from undergoing a tooth-whitening procedure.

Are there teeth that can't be whitened? ›

Yet, if your teeth stains are underneath the enamel of your teeth, known as intrinsic (internal) discoloration, then the bleaching agent won't be able to remove them.

How to get the best results from teeth whitening? ›

During the entire process of whitening, we sometimes advise to change your diet and avoid tooth staining foodstuffs such as tea, coffee, red wine and curry. Avoid smoking if possible. Maintain good oral hygiene. Tooth surfaces close to your gums might take longer to whiten; however, you shouldn't worry too much.

What teeth whitening doesn't ruin teeth? ›

Oral Essentials Lumineux Whitening Kit

These whitening strips offer the benefits of Crest's whitening strips but without harsh ingredients like peroxide. Instead, these strips break up and lift stains using ingredients like sage oil, coconut oil, sea salt, and lemon peel oil.

Do some teeth not respond to whitening? ›

The fact is, not all teeth respond to whitening. Furthermore, it is important to understand what whitening products you use can really make all the difference.

Why aren't my teeth getting whiter with white stripes? ›

Teeth Are Not Clean

The chemicals break down the stain molecules that cause teeth to darken. Plaque buildup can block these whitening chemicals from reaching the stained teeth. Schedule a dental cleaning appointment first before using teeth whitening strips. This can prepare your teeth well for the whitening process.

Why won't my yellow teeth whiten? ›

Here are some reasons why your teeth are not whitening like you had hoped for: Intrinsic stains: Intrinsic stains are stains that occur inside the tooth, often due to genetics, medication use, or trauma. These stains are harder to remove with traditional teeth whitening treatments.

What is the least damaging way to whiten your teeth? ›

Baking Soda: As long as you are careful to brush gently, baking soda can eliminate stains from the surface of your teeth without damaging them. Whitening Strips: Whitening strips mold to the shape of your teeth to whiten them. Whitening strips are both safe and effective.

How to whiten yellow teeth naturally? ›

The following strategies may help whiten teeth:
  1. Making dietary changes. Eliminating foods that mark the teeth can prevent further staining. ...
  2. Trying oil pulling. ...
  3. Brushing with baking soda. ...
  4. Using hydrogen peroxide. ...
  5. Whitening with fruit. ...
  6. Chewing high fiber foods.

Who is not a candidate for teeth whitening? ›

Not everyone is the right candidate for teeth whitening. For example, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should wait to get whitening. People who have dental bridges or crowns may want to talk to their dentist before considering whitening. Children should be at least 16 to get this type of treatment.

Why do my teeth still look yellow after whitening? ›

Teeth can become temporarily dehydrated after using whitening strips. Your teeth may appear more yellow as a result of this dehydration because the enamel may become dry and lack moisture. Dehydrated enamel sometimes has a transparent appearance that makes the naturally yellowish dentin underneath visible.

Does teeth whitening not work on some people? ›

If you have gray teeth or internal stains, dental whitening may not be an option. People who have had the antibiotic tetracycline or too much fluoride as a child may have gray stains that are impossible to remove with tooth whitening. People who have had root canal therapy may also have gray teeth.

Why didn't my teeth whitening last? ›

First off, it's important to keep in mind that professional teeth whitening is not permanent. Your teeth will eventually start to yellow again as new stains and discoloration develop over time. In addition, certain foods and drinks (think coffee, tea, and red wine) can cause your teeth to stain more easily.

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