Important Facts about Teeth Whitening

Important Facts about Teeth Whitening

• Teeth lose their pearly white color in different people for a variety of reasons. For some it may occur because of vitamin or mineral loss that occurs with age while other people may get stains from drinking coffee or tea or from smoking cigarettes or cigars.

Important Facts about Teeth Whitening

• Fortunately, a wide variety of teeth whitening systems exist to help bring back the brightness and whiteness in stained or darkened teeth. The following are some important facts about this process.

It Takes Time

• Most people who undergo this process, whether via home whitening systems or those available at the dentist, are going to need more than one treatment to see significant results. If you begin whitening your teeth, you will likely notice some improvement after the first or second treatment.

It Takes Time

• However, it usually takes daily treatments for weeks or even months using home treatments before complete results can be seen. Dentist treatments, while the least time-consuming, usually require several appointments before the patient achieves his or her desired results.

Dentist Treatments Are the Most Efficient

• The treatments that you can get from a dentist provide the most efficient way to whiten teeth. Sessions last about 30 to 60 minutes, and during a treatment session, your dentist will use a type of bleaching system not available for home treatments. Patients usually notice considerable improvement after the first session but most people tend to need several treatments to get their teeth to the level of white they want.

Home Treatments Are the Most Cost-Effective But Take Longer

• Several different types of home treatment are available, and you can find most of them at grocery stores, department stores, and pharmacy and health and beauty stores. In-home treatment products typically cost under $50. The most common types are toothpastes, rinses, strips and trays. Strips and trays offer a more potent concentration of the whitening compound, and treatments usually last anywhere from a half hour to a few hours.

Home Treatments Are the Most Cost-Effective But Take Longer

• Strips get worn for about a half hour twice daily for two weeks. Trays get worn for several hours per day for about a month. Toothpastes and rinses only get used for a couple of minutes a few times a day but can take around 3 months to show dramatic results.

The Effects Are Not Permanent

• Depending on the method of treatment, results last for approximately four to six months, although results will vary considerably from person to person. The type of foods and beverages you consume as well as whether or not you smoke will influence the amount of time your teeth stay white.

A Few Warnings

• Some people should not attempt whitening their teeth because of potential risk factors. This includes pregnant women and people with sensitive teeth or gums. People with health problems like gum disease, exposed roots or worn enamel, since the process can exacerbate those issues.

A Few Warnings

• Also, people with very stained teeth or who have smoked for a long time will experience whitening but will most likely not get a “pearly white” smile after one or even several sets of treatments.

Further Reading…

• Dr. Bruce Fletcher is a leading cosmetic dentist in London, Ontario. Visit us today at http://www.thedentist.ca for more information about the process of teeth whitening.