The premise of having perfectly white teeth is very attractive to people. As a result, so many try teeth whitening home kits that promise the world but do not actually deliver.
The truth is that teeth whitening should be done by a trained dentist. At the same time, before you go through with the procedure, there are some very important things you need to be aware of. They are all presented below.
Teeth Absorb Like Sponges
You might not know this but teeth have pores, just like a sponge, or your skin. If you put something inside the mouth and it has colour, the colour is absorbed. This is why it is such a good idea to avoid dark berries, smoking, coffee, and wine. All of these will stain your teeth.
As time passes, teeth become darker because of the stains. They do not naturally become white again. The stains have to be removed. This is where teeth whitening steps in to help.
Teeth Whitening Will Not Damage Teeth
Any type of abuse will damage your teeth. This includes aggressive brushing. However, when properly instructed, the dentist can perform professional teeth whitening, which is completely safe. During the procedure, active ingredients are used to open teeth pores so that stains can be lifted. Then, teeth naturally rehydrate and remineralize.
The Delivery Device Is Very Important
A huge problem with at-home teeth whitening kits, besides the lowest percentage of active whitening substance used, is that the delivery device is not custom-fitted, which is what happens when you go to the dentist. As a result, some parts of the tooth might not be in contact with the whitening substance.
Fitted whitening trays are just much more consistent than UV lights, whitening strips, bit trays, and similar dental whitening products. However, you should be aware of the fact that custom-fitted whitening trays can be quite expensive. As an example, in the US, they can easily cost more than $500.
Tooth Sensitivity Is Normal After Teeth Whitening
Over 50% of people have naturally sensitive teeth. This is often caused by damaged teeth, cracked teeth, thin enamel, and genetics. As teeth whitening procedures are performed, it is completely normal to experience extra tooth sensitivity. This is because teeth temporarily become dehydrated. Fortunately though, this sensitivity disappears after around 36 hours. Post-whitening fluoride treatments are recommended to nourish teeth and also promote rehydration after teeth whitening.
Overnight Stain Removal Is Usually Impossible
Contrary to what you might have read online, no tooth whitening product is capable of whitening your teeth in a day or just a few minutes. It is chemically impossible for whitening agents to penetrate deep enough and do it safely.
Whitening can take 4 days to several months. If you have some severe stains, you need to be patient and go to the dentist for every single tooth whitening session. After stains disappear, maintenance is much simpler.
You cannot Whiten Veneers And Caps
If you have veneers and artificial caps, the doctor matches colour based on surrounding teeth. This means the material ends up created with a lighter or darker colour. This cannot be changed. Veneers and caps cannot stain or get whiter. Also, teeth whitening is not going to damage the dental work done in the past.
You Might Not Have Perfect White Teeth
Without considering stains, natural tooth colour is set when you are born. Whitening products can only remove stains. This is something that many dentists do not mention. It is close to impossible to know exactly how white your teeth will end up.
