Did you know that seven in 10 Americans feel self-conscious about their teeth? While crookedness, gaps, and receding gums were common complaints, many survey respondents were self-conscious about the shade of their teeth. Some people even admitted that they avoided laughing or covered their mouths when they smiled!
If you can count yourself in that number, you’ll be happy to know that whitening teeth is much faster and easier than you’d think.
Here in our Katy, TX office, we get plenty of questions about how our whitening services work. If you’re curious about these simple treatments, here are a few quick tips worth knowing before you schedule your appointment.
1. Whitening Teeth Is Safe
Though most people assume teeth whitening would be harsh on teeth, you’ll be glad to know it’s a safe treatment.
Whether you’re seeking Zoom! treatments or you’d rather take home custom whitening trays, you can trust these options to whiten without causing damage. Both of these treatments use hydrogen peroxide as their active ingredient. This chemical compound bleaches the teeth for effective whitening.
The same is also true for over-the-counter (OTC) whitening products. However, some products use additional abrasives to scrub the surface of your teeth. If you choose to whiten your teeth without professional help, make sure you’re only using safe products approved by the American Dental Association.
2. Clean Teeth Whiten Better
If you want white teeth, be sure to come by for a professional cleaning first! Clean teeth ensure a more even and effective whitening treatment.
A dental cleaning appointment can help remove tiny food particles from your teeth. This allows the whitening agent to penetrate the surfaces of your teeth.
In addition, a professional cleaning will remove any plaque and tartar that have built up in your mouth. Not only do these sticky substances cause discoloration, but they can also make your whitening treatment less effective.
3. Professional Results Are Fast
If you’ve ever tried to whiten your teeth on your own at home, you already know how long it takes. Whitening toothpaste offers few visible benefits, and though whitening trays are better, it can still take weeks or months to see results.
When you whiten your teeth with a dentist’s help, on the other hand, the results are much faster.
In-office treatment can whiten your teeth by six to eight shades in a single visit! Even better, these visits only take around 45 minutes. Depending on your goals and the initial shade of your teeth, however, you may need multiple appointments to see the results you’re looking for.
At-home treatment using whitening trays will often take around two weeks. Again, the timeline will vary according to your goals and the initial state of your teeth.
4. Caps and Veneers Won’t Whiten
One common question we get is whether whitening treatments can brighten any restoration work you have in your mouth.
Unfortunately, whitening gels don’t affect porcelain. They work well on natural teeth, but they won’t change the color of caps, crowns, or veneers.
That doesn’t mean you’re out of luck! A dentist can still whiten this type of restorative work, but they’ll need to do it by removing and replacing the crown or veneer in question. Your dentist can even match the replacement to the shade of your whitened natural teeth after your procedure.
5. Sensitivity Is Normal After Whitening
Sensitivity is common after the use of any peroxide-based treatment.
This happens because peroxide temporarily makes the surface of your teeth more permeable for the procedure to work. As a result, the sensitive inner dentin and nerves are more exposed.
In addition, whitening procedures tend to dehydrate the teeth. This can make it even harder for your sensitive nerves to insulate themselves from sudden temperature changes!
As a result, you may notice that your teeth are more sensitive to hot, cold, sweet, or acidic foods and drinks. You may also feel sensitivity when your teeth are exposed to cool air.
This sensitivity is temporary, and most patients find that the feeling disappears after a few days. If it persists, you can opt for an in-office desensitization treatment or use a desensitizing gel or toothpaste.
6. Results Last Up to a Year
Depending on the state of your teeth, the whitening treatment, and your oral hygiene routine, your whitening results could last for many months. This is especially true of professional treatments, which allow patients to enjoy whiter teeth for a year or longer.
Keep in mind that the same isn’t true of at-home treatments. These OTC options offer minimal results for up to a few months at a time.
However, that doesn’t mean OTC treatments have no use! Switching to whitening toothpaste can be a great way to keep your teeth white after you’ve brightened them with professional treatment.
7. You Should Still Adjust Your Diet
Just because you’ve whitened your teeth doesn’t mean you can ignore the best practices for keeping stains at bay. You’ll want to avoid staining foods and drinks as much as possible. This includes common culprits like coffee, wine, and tea, as well as acidic foods like citrus fruits and tomatoes.
It’s especially important that you avoid these foods for 48 hours after your treatment. As we’ve mentioned above, the surface enamel of your teeth is more permeable during this time, and it’s more prone to soaking up the staining properties of these foods and drinks.
Get a Brighter Smile Today
If you’ve been on the fence about whitening your teeth, we hope the insights above have helped! Professional teeth whitening treatments are comfortable, fast, and effective, and they’ll offer the glowing smile you’ve been hoping for in no time at all.
As the trusted source for whitening services in Katy, TX, our dental team is ready to help you achieve all of your dental goals. After an initial check-up and consultation, we’ll work with you to settle on the best treatment for your smile. To set up an appointment or to ask further questions, get in touch today.