Tooth Whitening- The Do’s and Don’ts!
With what seems like countless options on the market when it comes to tooth whitening, the decision can seem quite overwhelming. With whitening options varying drastically in cost and all whitening marketing showing similar impressive results, how do you choose the best option? Here’s a few things to Do and Don’t when it comes to choosing a tooth whitening option that works for you.
THE DON’TS
Don’t expect results to last forever
Unfortunately bleaching can’t be permanent. Food and drinks will impact the longevity of your whitening results. Your usual suspects of coffee and red wine can result in staining, therefore altering your long term bleaching results. One way to have a more permanent white smile is by having dental veneers placed - see our blog here whataredentalveneers for more information.
Don’t bleach your teeth if you haven’t had a recent dental check-up
The tooth-whitening industry is largely unregulated. This allows teeth whitening to be offered by almost anyone! Getting your teeth bleached by an unqualified practitioner would almost be like getting your hair dyed by your dentist - you just wouldn’t do it! Dental professionals are trained to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy prior to prescribing tooth whitening options suitable for you. Bleaching your teeth when decay or gum problems are present can be a very painful process.
Don’t ignore your gums
If opting for a take home bleaching system ensure you take care not to let the bleach come in contact with your gums. This is where trays specifically made for tooth whitening are advantageous as they are accurately fitted to your teeth, leaving minimal room between the tooth and the gum for excess bleach to pool up on. Many store bought whitening strips and kits are one size fits all making it hard to protect your gums from the bleach and can result in pain, discomfort and sensitivity.
THE DO’S
Do your research
As the heading suggests, do your research! If you’ve seen a whitening product on the internet that looks to good to be true, it probably is. Look up reviews of the product on a third party website to avoid any bias and see if it is used in any dental clinics or recommended by any dental professionals. Alternatively, speak to a dental professional for advice.
Do read the label
Follow the directions for use for whichever product you go for. Bleaching products will contain different amounts of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. High percentages will often be used over shorter time frames whereas lower percentages will often tell you to keep the application on longer. Don’t be tempted to leave it on longer than directed or to use more bleach - this can result in very sensitive teeth even after you’ve removed the bleach from your mouth.
Do speak to a dental professional
Even if you are ready to jump on board with the latest online tooth whitening trend, speak to a dental professional for advice. Apart from ensuring that your teeth and gums are in good health prior to whitening they will be able to provide you with the most effective and safest tooth whitening options for you.