7 Things You Should Know About Teeth Whitening
You’re never fully dressed without a smile. So, why not make it your whitest smile? Professional teeth whitening is an effective and popular way to brighten your teeth. Interested in whitening your teeth? Advanced Dental Care of Indiana can help you decide if teeth whitening is a good fit for you or if a different cosmetic dentistry procedure may be better. Before you decide, here are 7 things you should know about teeth whitening.
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Your oral hygiene matters.
Your teeth need to be healthy before you can professionally whiten your teeth. If you have gum disease, decay, cracks, infections, or any other oral health issues, see your dentist to have these taken care of first. The presence of any one of these dental problems doesn’t mean you can’t have your teeth whitened. It just means you’ll have to wait.
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Professional teeth whitening aims to remove both extrinsic and intrinsic stains.
Drugstore whitening agents, like toothpaste, aim to get rid of extrinsic stains – the stains on the outside of your teeth. Professional teeth whitening goes deep into your tooth to lift both the extrinsic and intrinsic stains. Intrinsic stains are surface stains that have seeped deep into the pores of your teeth. The result? A longer-lasting, whiter smile.
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Not everyone can whiten their teeth.
Dentin is naturally yellow in color. But the intensity of the yellow depends on the individual. Hence, if your teeth lean more towards the yellow side naturally, teeth whitening won’t do anything. If this is the case, porcelain veneers may be the better option. Porcelain veneers are a cosmetic dentistry procedure that bond a thin, ceramic layer over the front surface of your tooth.
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Teeth whitening will not cause damage to your teeth – most of the time.
As with anything, over or misuse can cause harm to your teeth. However, if you have your teeth whitened by a professional you have nothing to worry about. The process your dentist uses will open the pores in your teeth to life out the stains. After the procedure, your teeth will naturally rehydrate and re-mineralize.
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Not all teeth are the same shade of white.
Just like the natural shade of your teeth differs from person to person, it differs from tooth to tooth as well. In fact, one of your teeth may have several different shades in it. This might make whitening difficult. You also cannot whiten caps, dental bridges or porcelain veneers. This is why it is best to see a professional who can target treatment to help you achieve the whitest smile.
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The key to success is in the whitening agent.
Drugstore whitening agents and laser whitening can get the job done. But the result is usually temporary and there is a higher chance for sensitivity. These treatments tend to only lift stains on the surface of the tooth, not ones deep inside. The teeth whitening procedure that your dentist uses has a bleaching agent to break deep into the pores of your teeth so you get white teeth from the inside out.
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The longevity of your white smile is up to you.
White teeth is not a sign of healthy teeth. Therefore, you will still need to practice good dental hygiene including daily flossing and brushing. It is also recommended that you visit your general dentist office for regular cleanings every six months. Doing so will not just help the health of your teeth, but also prolong the results of your teeth whitening.
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