For those of us with a gleaming grin, it most likely had a little help. Teeth whitening has gone from an expensive cosmetic treatment to a quick and affordable process that can make a dramatic difference to somebody’s smile.
There are lots of factors, however, that will determine how successful your teeth whitening is. “Young teeth will whiten much better than older teeth,” points out Dr Sarah Flannery, founder of Azure Dental Practice in Dublin. “When we are young, the teeth will whiten very well. [But] as we age, the amount of dentine inside the tooth increases, which makes the teeth less receptive to whitening treatment.”
Misconceptions still abound when it comes to tooth whitening. Flannery says people often worry about the teeth becoming too white, but in reality this is never an issue. “The change in shade is gradual and the patient can stop at any stage,” she notes. “The tooth also has a limit, so at some stage, the tooth will have achieved maximum whiteness and no amount of whitening will whiten the tooth more.”
There are also concerns that tooth whitening is bad for teeth, concerns that Flannery says are unfounded. “Whitening of the teeth, with the advice and prescription of your dental professional, will not cause any damage to the enamel,” she says. “The main risks are tooth sensitivity, which is not permanent, and when the product is stopped, the tooth sensitivity will resolve, and soreness of the gums due to overloading the trays with whitening products which can lead to a chemical burn of the tissues. Again, the gums will recover in time, but this can be painful.”
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Proper oversight is required when using dental-grade whitening products, she adds. “It is important for a dentist to examine and monitor the whitening as if there is gum recession present, the sensitivity can be extreme. It is also important to obtain the correct products and dosage from your dentist as everyone’s mouth is different.”
Of course, there are some over-the-counter options available. The Irish Dental Association cautions against using products sourced online. “It is often not clear exactly what these products contain so it’s very hard to know if they are safe to use, or even if they are effective,” says an IDA spokesperson. “Many products bought online do not clearly state their active ingredients and often contain ingredients that are banned in the EU on safety grounds.”
For example, Flannery says there are pros and cons to using whitening strips. “Again, these come in different percentage concentrations, so selecting the right product for your teeth is important.” While strips can be convenient and easy to use, and relatively less expensive than other teeth whitening methods, but they may not give the desired result.
“They will only whiten the area that the strip covers, typically from the first premolar to the opposite first premolar,” explains Flannery. “In some people, this is enough, but for others with a wider smile, it will mean that the whitening is uneven and the teeth further back will not be whitened, sometimes leaving a noticeable difference.” Similarly, if a patient has long teeth, it may not cover all the way to the gum tissues, again leading to an uneven result, she adds.
Laser teeth whitening, which accelerates the effect of whitening gels, is also growing in popularity and availability. While Flannery says it can be very beneficial, this works best when used as an initial treatment and is then followed by the use of custom-made whitening trays. “The real benefits of whitening gels are seen when the whitening products are used for a number of consecutive days and the laser teeth whitening alone will not provide this.”
And contrary to popular belief, teeth whitening is permanent — but watch what you drink. Once the base shade of the tooth has been altered, it will retain the whiter shade, Flannery explains. “The tooth is still susceptible to staining from tea, coffee, red wine etc, but the darker shade inside the tooth will have been altered to a whiter shade.”
Avoiding the aforementioned beverages will help to preserve the pearliness, as will quitting smoking if this applies. Regular brushing and flossing will help to maintain the new shade, especially with whitening toothpaste, which will help remove surface stains and prevent discolouration. “Ensure it is not too abrasive as continued use of an abrasive toothpaste can have an adverse effect on your teeth,” advises Flannery.
