Teeth Whitening 101: Everything You Need to Know! (2024)

Posted on February 17, 2023 by Melissa Brown, DDS

Wondering about whitening? We’ve got the scoop right here. Learn what your whitening options are, how teeth whitening works, and what we use to professionally whiten teeth in our office.

What Causes Yellow Teeth?

There are a number ofreasonspeople develop yellow teeth. The most common causes include:

  • Smoking
  • Consuming dark liquids like red wine, coffee, tea, or cola
  • Trauma
  • Aging
  • Poor dental hygiene
  • Excessive fluoride or exposure to tetracycline antibiotics during childhood

Most people don’t consider how aging affects the color of your teeth. The outer layer of your teeth is comprised of enamel. Beneath that enamel is dentin, a yellow layer of tissue. As you age, enamel starts to thin. When that happens, dentin shows through, making teeth appear yellow.

What Are My Teeth Whitening Options?

If you’d like to whiten your teeth, there are several differentoptionsavailable to you:

  • Whitening Toothpaste. Whitening toothpaste uses chemical agents to whiten teeth. However, these toothpastes typically only lighten the color of teeth by about one shade. This option offers the most subtle results.
  • At-Home Bleaching. This includes gels you paint on your teeth, teeth whitening strips, and mouth trays you wear that contain whitening solution. While these at-home bleaching methods all work, there are a few drawbacks. For one thing, it takes time to see results, and the results are more modest than what you would achieve with a professional whitening. These methods also aren’t recommended for people who have sensitive teeth or gums.
  • In-Office Whitening. In-office professional whitening offers the best results, typically whitening teeth about 8 shades. While professional whitening costs more than the other methods, the results are immediate and more dramatic. Because the whitening is performed by a professional, this method is also safer than at-home bleaching.

Does Teeth Whitening Work for Everyone?

Unfortunately, whiteningdoesn’t workfor everyone. For instance, yellow discoloration can typically be improved with whitening. However, brown or gray-toned teeth may not respond well or at all to whitening.

Whitening also won’t work if the discoloration was caused by medications or an injury. Finally, whitening doesn’t work on caps, veneers, crowns, or fillings.

What Professional Whitening Option Is Available at Murray Hill Dental?

At Murray Hill Dental, we use Phillips Zoom whitening, the #1 most requested whitening brand by patients. The entire procedure takes 45 minutes to an hour and lightens teeth about 8 shades. Our patients really love the results and appreciate how quick the process is. To learn more about our in-office whitening,click here.

If you’d like to schedule in-office professional whitening, we’d recommend having your teeth cleaned a couple weeks prior to treatment. To set up your dental appointment, justclick here.

Alternatively, you can call us. To reach our N. Murray Hill Road office servicing the Western Columbus area, please contact 614-878-1188. To schedule an appointment at our Northern location in Westerville, call 614-890-5022. We’re pleased to offer evening office hours for your convenience.

Teeth Whitening 101: Everything You Need to Know! (1)

About the Page Author

Melissa Brown, DDS

Melissa Brown, DDS, fa*gD, D. ABDSM is the founder of Murray Hill Dental. She enthusiastically shares her love of dentistry with all her patients and brings a caring perspective to their general dental needs. A native of Columbus, Ohio, Dr. Brown earned her undergraduate degree in Zoology from Miami University in 1996, and her DDS from the Ohio State University College of Dentistry in 2004.

Teeth Whitening 101: Everything You Need to Know! (2024)

FAQs

Teeth Whitening 101: Everything You Need to Know!? ›

For instance, yellow discoloration can typically be improved with whitening. However, brown or gray-toned teeth may not respond well or at all to whitening. Whitening also won't work if the discoloration was caused by medications or an injury. Finally, whitening doesn't work on caps, veneers, crowns, or fillings.

What are the dos and don'ts during teeth whitening? ›

Don't Consume Foods that Can Stain Your Teeth

For both over-the-counter and professional teeth whitening, the first few days after treatment are the most critical. Avoid dark foods/liquids, drink through a straw when you can, don't smoke, brush/floss frequently and you should be looking great.

What not to do before teeth whitening? ›

Avoid eating food or drinking beverages that can stain your teeth. Anything that might leave stains should be avoided. That includes black teas, coffee, red wine, blueberries, and anything else that can stain your teeth.

Do I brush my teeth before or after teeth whitening? ›

Brushing before applying Whitestrips can help remove surface stains and improve product adherence. Yet, it's equally essential to follow up with a gentle post-treatment brushing to eliminate residual gel and maintain oral hygiene. The ideal sequence can vary depending on personal preferences and product instructions.

How do you get the best results from teeth whitening? ›

How to Maximize Your Teeth-Whitening Results
  1. Avoid consuming things that stain your teeth.
  2. Don't smoke or chew tobacco.
  3. Brush your teeth regularly.
  4. Consider brushing with baking soda once a week.
  5. Eat a tooth-friendly diet.
  6. Get a touch-up whitening.

Why can't you drink water after teeth whitening? ›

After you whiten your teeth with Philips Sonicare teeth whitening products, acidic or staining foods and drinks are more easily absorbed by your teeth. This can lead to discoloration, and this why it is advised to wait 30 minutes after whitening before eating or drinking.

What teeth Cannot be whitened? ›

You won't be able to whiten either porcelain crowns or most commonly used dental bonding materials. And, if you're suffering from gum disease, teeth whitening treatments will be uncomfortable, as well as possibly ineffective.

How long do teeth pores stay open after whitening? ›

The pores slowly close over the next two to three days, but during that time, your teeth are more susceptible to staining from foods and drinks. For at least the first 48 hours, it's best to avoid darkly colored foods and drinks, including berries, coffee, tea, red wine, and tomato sauce.

How long after teeth whitening can I eat normally? ›

When the dentist whitens teeth, your teeth can become sensitive to different foods that can stain. After 24-72 hours, you can resume your regular diet. The following are the things that you need to avoid after teeth whitening. Sugary foods can irritate your teeth and trigger the bacteria responsible for causing decay.

How many hours before I can eat after teeth whitening? ›

Generally, it is advised to wait anywhere from 24-48 hours after teeth whitening treatment before consuming any type of food. However, this recommendation may vary depending on the discolouration severity and the type of teeth whitening done in the dental office.

Do teeth continue to whiten after teeth whitening? ›

Some people respond very well and teeth can get up to 3-4 shades lighter after just 5-7days of bleaching or up to 5 shades whiter with one ZOOM in office treatment. Others may not notice as much change. Your teeth will continue to lighten for a couple of days even after you stop a whitening session.

Do crest white strips work? ›

Will crest whitestrips work for me? Depending on the type of discoloration you have, Crest whitening kits may or may not work for you. If you have yellowing due to aging, poor nutrition, smoking, this whitening method may work for you. But if you have dark and greyed teeth, Crest Whitestrips may not work for you.

What is the best tooth whitening product? ›

The Best Teeth Whitening Kits, According to Dentists
  • OpalescenceGo Prefilled Teeth Whitening Trays, Set of 10. ...
  • Burst Prefilled Whitening Trays, Set of 3. ...
  • PhilipsZoom NiteWhite Kit, Set of 3. ...
  • Dr. ...
  • Colgate Optic White ComfortFit Teeth Whitening Kit. ...
  • Auraglow Teeth Whitening Kit. ...
  • Crest3D Whitestrips, Pack of 22.
Sep 20, 2023

Why do my teeth get yellow so fast after whitening? ›

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.

What is the fastest teeth whitening method? ›

Zoom-in-office whitening is the best teeth whitening system out there. It is fast (takes about an hour) and you get great results. This is the one you have probably seen before where the patients are under that blue light and it turns your teeth up to four shades of whiter.

What is the fastest teeth whitening process? ›

The most effective treatment you can receive through your dentist is Zoom! laser teeth whitening treatment. While this procedure is not the cheapest fix for yellowing, it is the most effective, quickest, and long-lasting procedure.

Can you drink water while whitening teeth? ›

You should not eat, drink or smoke whilst wearing the trays. The whitening process works at different rates for each individual, but most patients report that a noticeable effect after just four treatments. Sufficient gel is given for the initial process to work.

How long should I be careful after teeth whitening? ›

For 48 hours after a professional teeth whitening, it's recommended that you avoid acidic, pigmented foods and beverages and stick to things that won't cause discoloration. This is commonly called the “White Diet”, a short-term diet consisting of white and light-colored foods and drinks.

How long to avoid after teeth whitening? ›

How Long After Teeth Whitening Can I Eat Normally? After teeth whitening, it's recommended to avoid eating or drinking anything that could stain your teeth for at least 24 hours, for example, coffee, tea, red wine, and dark-colored fruits like blueberries and blackberries.

When should you not whiten your teeth? ›

Anyone allergic to peroxide (the whitening agent) should not use a bleaching product. Gum disease, worn enamel, cavities, and exposed roots. Individuals with gum disease or teeth with worn enamel are generally discouraged from undergoing a tooth-whitening procedure.

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