Am I a Candidate for Teeth Whitening? - Family Dental | Springfield, MO (2024)

FAQs

What makes you a good candidate for teeth whitening? ›

If you struggle with dull or yellowed teeth that cannot be easily whitened with regular brushing and flossing, then you are a great candidate for teeth whitening treatment. Teeth whitening is suitable for any type of discoloration, including age-related yellowness and stains caused by coffee and cigarettes.

Those who are suffering from periodontal disease, oral cancer, or who have enamel that is excessively worn down to not make good candidates for teeth whitening either. Most other patients should not have a problem.

Not everyone is the right candidate for teeth whitening. For example, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should wait to get whitening. People who have dental bridges or crowns may want to talk to their dentist before considering whitening. Children should be at least 16 to get this type of treatment.

Your dentist will advise you whether whitening is right for you. It may be that teeth whitening isn't suitable, for example if you have gum disease or crowns.

Make your teeth look whiter – Darker shades like royal/navy blue, purple, and even black can make the color of your teeth appear whiter. Even so, be aware that colors like dark green and brown can look like food. What about white braces – Although this may be a color you were thinking of, you may want to stray away.

Tooth whitening is any process that lightens the color of a tooth. Whitening may be accomplished by physical removal of the stain or a chemical reaction to lighten the tooth color. Bleaching is defined here as the chemical degradation of the chromogens.

Tooth and gum sensitivity and pain

Store-bought products may contain abrasive substances like hydrogen peroxide, which can be effective if used minimally, but in large doses can cause erosion of teeth's enamel and shrinkage of the gums.

Teeth that have yellowed with age

Dentin is naturally yellowish and cannot be lightened with teeth whitening products.

Also keep in mind that these products are for natural teeth. You'll need to talk to your dentist about how to unify the color of your teeth if you have implants, crowns, bridges, or dentures. Teeth whitening treatments may not be right for you to try while you have active cavities or certain dental work in progress.

Teeth can become temporarily dehydrated after using whitening strips. Your teeth may appear more yellow as a result of this dehydration because the enamel may become dry and lack moisture. Dehydrated enamel sometimes has a transparent appearance that makes the naturally yellowish dentin underneath visible.

Can old yellow teeth be whitened? ›

It's natural for teeth to appear darker as they age, but a bleaching product with hydrogen peroxide or urea peroxide can help turn back the clock – and a whitening toothpaste is an easy way to get a jump-start.

White strips are the most effective over-the-counter whitening treatment you can use without a dentist's supervision. At-home gel trays that are customized to fit your mouth by your dentist and chairside whitening provide the longest-lasting whitening.