10 Facts Everyone Should Know About Teeth Whitening
1. HOW WHITENING TOOTHPASTE WORKS
Whitening toothpaste can make your teeth appear whiter. It achieves this by removing stains on the surface of your teeth using abrasives that polish the teeth or by using special chemicals that break down or dissolve stains. The toothpaste must be used for between two and six weeks, twice a day, before your teeth will start to appear whiter. A few whitening toothpastes use blue covarine. This chemical creates a thin film on your tooth that alters its appearance and creates the impression of whiter teeth.
It’s important to note that no whitening toothpaste exists that is able to deal with deep stains that alter the color of your teeth.
2. TEETH ABSORB
It may not appear that way at first glance, but your teeth have pores. These pores will absorb color from the various foods you consume, such as coffee and sodas, and stain your teeth. Your teeth will darken as these stains build up. The only way to get rid of these stains is by using teeth whitening gel, which is absorbed into the pores in your teeth and pushes the stains out during the teeth whitening process.
3. WON’T DAMAGE YOUR TEETH
If used as instructed, professional teeth whitening is incredibly safe. The whitening process uses active ingredients to temporarily open pores in your teeth and lift stains. After each whitening session, your teeth naturally remineralize and rehydrate.
4. CUSTOM TRAYS ARE KEY
Most teeth whitening products on the market use similar active ingredients to whiten. The difference is the device that is used to hold the whitening agent on the tooth. A truly custom-fitted whitening tray ensures that every angle of every tooth (regardless of whether your teeth are straight or not) receives even and consistent coverage.
5. SENSITIVITY INCREASES AFTER TEETH WHITENING
After the teeth whitening procedure, your teeth will feel more sensitive than usual. This sensitivity will remain for up to 36 hours due to the dehydration of the tooth. A post-whitening fluoride treatment is usually suggested by your dental practitioner to treat the temporary sensitivity.
6. LASER TREATMENTS DON’T LAST FOREVER
Laser and UV treatments used during the teeth whitening process cause the whitening gel reaction to speed up. However, the whitening process is not permanent and multiple sessions are necessary to achieve the desired effect. Unfortunately, laser and UV treatments are not available for people with sensitive teeth.
7. STAIN REMOVAL TAKES TIME
The whitening process can take anywhere from a few days to a few months for results to appear. This is due to the amount of time it takes the whitening agent to penetrate into the tooth and remove stains. More deeply embedded stains will take longer to remove.
8. WHITEN YOUR TEETH JUST BEFORE YOU GO TO SLEEP
After whitening, the pores in your teeth open slightly, which means it’s easier for stains to occur. This is why it’s best for you to perform whitening just before you go to bed, so that your teeth will not be exposed to any substances that could stain them. Rehydrating and remineralizing of your teeth will also naturally take place while you sleep.
9. CROWNS AND VENEERS CANNOT BE WHITENED
The whitening agent won’t work on crowns and veneers. It also doesn’t work on dentures and fillings.
10. TEETH WHITENING WILL ONLY RESTORE YOUR TEETH’S NATURAL COLOR
Teeth whitening removes stains that have built up over time to restore the natural color of your teeth. It will not make your teeth any whiter than their original, natural shade.