Teeth Whitening.. Do's & Don'ts

The initial first step, when deciding to whiten your teeth, must be a dental examination with x-ray pictures taken. There are several causes of tooth discoloration- abscessed teeth, decay, Turner's Tooth, Tetracycline stain, to name a few- for which bleaching will not solve. Also, exposed tooth roots will not bleach and your results will not be ideal; cosmetic treatment options other than whitening would be better solutions for this problem. Your Dentist can determine the proper treatment and decide if bleaching is right for you. 

Can Whitening Damage My Teeth?

Proper bleaching with low solutions of peroxide have been determined safe to use and will not harm the enamel. There are blogs or Pinterest ideas that suggest using a lemon juice and baking soda paste on your teeth to remove stain. Does this work? Possibly. Is it harmful? Yes. The acidity level (on the pH scale) of lemon juice is 2. Battery acid or sulfuric acid (on the pH scale) are 0 and 1. Anything with that amount of acidity is bound to destroy your enamel, and remember, once its gone... its gone. The most common and thoroughly researched bleaching products are 10% carbamide peroxide (used at home in trays), and 35% hydrogen peroxide (used in office). Carbamide peroxide is a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and urea, and has a longer wear time. This product does not break down as quickly as hydrogen peroxide and also helps lessen the acidity level where the enamel is not affected. Hydrogen peroxide may contain stronger concentrations but only stays active up to an hour. With a high acidic level, this product should not be left on the teeth for extensive lengths of time. 

What About Tooth Sensitivity?

If you already suffer from tooth sensitivity... beware! Most people complain of sensitivity and therefore do not continue bleaching. However, there are things you can do to prevent or lessen the amount of sensitivity that will occur. Potassium Nitrate is the active ingredient used in sensitivity toothpastes, including Sensodyne. Potassium Nitrate works by shielding nerve endings and blocking the pain impulse to the brain. Studies suggest by using a sensitivity toothpaste 2 WEEKS prior to bleaching, as well as after, may lessen the sensitivity up to 90%.  In-office fluoride treatments can also help decrease sensitivity by blocking the nerve endings. Finding a toothpaste that has fluoride and potassium nitrate is ideal. Through experience, our Dental Hygienist has found, that patients find relief by placing a sensitivity toothpaste into their trays and wearing them up to 30 minutes prior to bleaching. Her patients also receive a 5% sodium fluoride treatment at every 6 month hygiene appointment. 


Do All Teeth Whiten?

Every persons whitening capabilities are different and each set of teeth have their own whitening capacity at which point they will no longer whiten. Just like everyone has their own shade of skin, everyone has their own shade of teeth. Peroxide goes through the enamel, through the dentin and changes the genetic color. Often times, someones teeth may contain stain; making them look less white. This stain can be removed by swishing with an over-the-counter hydrogen peroxide or brushing with a baking soda paste. This process does not penetrate the tooth but removes any surface enamel stain, improving the whiteness of the teeth. As stated before, some teeth are discolored for different reasons. Tetracycline stain is an internal stain that cannot be removed and possibly will not whiten. Again, your dentist can determine if whitening is right for you. 

Tetracycline Stain

Whitening Procedures..

The most common tooth whitening procedures are, an in-office treatment and at-home whitening trays. In-office treatments are generally expensive but give a quicker result than bleaching at home. You can expect a 2-4 shade difference with this procedure. At-home whitening trays may produce the same result as an in-office treatment but with a few weeks time. At Cornerstone Dental Care, we use an in-office bleaching system called Boost. A 40% hydrogen peroxide gel is placed on the teeth for 2-3, 20 minute applications. A barrier is placed around the gums to prevent them from burning during the treatment. We have seen great results with this in-office whitening treatment! Dr. Liddiard cherishes his patients and rewards them with Free Whitening for Life! Each patient is made personal whitening trays to be used at home and we supply you with bleach at every 6 month hygiene appointment! 

Keep up with your regular dental hygiene appointments and always remember to brush and floss daily to keep plaque from accumulating. Good oral hygiene will always help to keep your teeth white longer! Also, it is important to remember that all aspects of teeth whitening are best performed under professional care. 

-A Healthy Body Starts With a Healthy Smile-