Everything You Need to Know About Teeth Whitening
A big, happy smile is inviting, charming – and powerful. But when your teeth are stained, not only does it affect the look of your smile, but it can also make you feel less confident.
Instead of covering your mouth every time you smile, a teeth-whitening solution that works for you and your budget will allow your true colour to shine through, AKA, bright, sparkling pearly whites!
Why do our teeth get stained so easily?
The colouration, thickness and texture of the enamel on our teeth gives our pearly whites – well – their pearly whiteness. A smooth, thick layer of bright white enamel means you’ll likely have a bright white smile. However, a rough, ivory-coloured surface likely means the enamel is thinning and the dentin ( beneath the enamel) is showing through, creating a less than ideal darker shade.
Enamel thickness is dictated by factors like genes, as well as the food we eat and the drinks we drink (here comes the wine and coffee lecture, wink, wink).
Regardless of what our genes dictate, our teeth will often darken throughout our lives due to the typical wear and tear they go through on a daily basis.
Over the course of our lives, tooth discolouration has a variety of both avoidable and unavoidable causes, including,
Staining of the enamel – Drinks like wine or coffee (there they are), or consistent tobacco use, can discolour our enamel, sinking stains into the pores of our teeth.
Thinning of the tooth enamel – As we age, our enamel thins from use, enabling the underlying dentin, which often darkens with age, to show through.
Stains covering the tooth – Every day, a thin coating called pellicle forms on our teeth, which can cause discolouration. The good news is, this can usually be brushed off to bring back your white smile (which is another reason why daily brushing is important).
Intrinsic staining – These are stains on the inside of our teeth which can be caused by a variety of reasons, such as the natural decay inside a root-canaled tooth.
Over the Counter Teeth Whitening Kits and Products
For quick and easy results, at-home teeth whitening kits, whitening toothpastes and other similar products can help you remove some of the staining and discolouration that’s dulling the look of your smile.
Over the counter teeth whitening products often work in two ways, either through:
Polishing compounds – Typically found in whitening toothpastes, these compounds are made up of tiny granules that polish off a thin layer of stained enamel, or even-out rough enamel, to reveal the whiter, smoother enamel underneath.
OR
Chemical whitening – Many teeth whiteners, like trays, strips, and mouthwashes rely on low quantities of hydrogen-peroxide to slowly remove stains and whiten the enamel of your teeth.
Because consumer whitening products are widely available, they are significantly weaker than dentist-applied products. And while these products are safe and easy to use, it also means they take much more time to work effectively – and they often won’t give you the significantly whiter smile you’re probably looking for.
Professional Dental Teeth Whitening
Because dentists have access to equipment and have the training to complete teeth whitening procedures safely, tooth whitening at the dentist’s office is both faster and more effective than over the counter options.
In-office teeth whitening
We use a professional-strength whitening gel to get immediate results for your smile. This requires isolating each tooth and protecting your gums before the professional-grade gel is applied.
This process takes one hour of your time but gives immediate, noticeable results.
Take-home teeth whitening
For those who don’t want to spend an hour in the dentist’s chair, we also offer a take-home option. First, we take an impression of your teeth, then create a custom mouth tray for you to take home, along with the whitening gel. Because we custom fit our mouth trays for each patient, our take-home option is both more comfortable and more effective than other off the shelf options.
Take-home whitening allows you to brighten your smile according to your timeline, but often takes a couple of weeks to see the results you want.
Vital vs. Non-vital Teeth Whitening
Up to now, we’ve been talking about vital teeth whitening – that is, the whitening of teeth that are still alive. However, this may not work on dead teeth (like a root-canaled tooth), as the staining is often intrinsic. If a root-canaled tooth begins to discolour, a dentist can place a whitening agent inside the tooth and then place a temporary filling on top. The whitening agent is left for days to fully whiten the tooth.
Choosing the Right Teeth Whitening Option For You
Now that you understand why teeth get discoloured, and what your options are for maintaining a white smile you can be proud of, you have the tools you need to make the right choice for you!
If you’re looking for a brighter, more confident smile, contact Peak Dental today and experience the change one hour can make!