Why Does Teeth Whitening Fail? | Fox Family Dentistry (2024)

Have you ever tried whitening your teeth? A lot of us have, and most of us were unhappy with the results!

Commercial teeth whitening has long been a gamble, and the results for most people simply don’t meet with expectations – especially considering the cost of some kits!

At Fox Family Dental we’ve been whitening teeth for years, and we’ve come to learn something about what works and what doesn’t. That’s why we’ve chosen KӧR deep bleaching for our patients. KӧR does a great job of avoiding the failures of typical whitening products – you’ll get reliable whitening that doesn’t let you down!

What Makes Whitening Go Wrong?

There are several reasons why over-the-counter whitening systems fail to meet the needs of most people who buy them. It’s the same problem for most every brand, so you really can’t luck out and find the “best choice” out there. None of them can match the capabilities of a professional product.

The Problem of Active Ingredients

Most whitening products contain the same active ingredient: hydrogen peroxide. While hydrogen peroxide works it needs to be treated in very particular ways. It’s commonly known that hydrogen peroxide is unstable, and most commercial kits you buy at the store have already weakened considerably.

Hydrogen peroxide works when it breaks down into oxygen and water, which causes a “scrubbing” effect that lifts stains from your teeth. Premature breakdown occurs in a number of situations, such as high temperature, exposure to light, and even exposure to saliva!

Because whitening gels break down so easy it’s unlikely you’re getting a full-strength product when you buy it. That’s why most over-the-counter kits have started using carbamide peroxide. Simply hydrogen peroxide with a bit of urea added, carbamide is a lot more stable than traditional whitening gel. But it still doesn’t eliminate the problem – there’s a lot less active ingredient in carbamide gels!

Whitening Trays That Don’t Cut the Mustard

Up above we mentioned how hydrogen peroxide breaks down in the presence of saliva, and if you think about that for just a second you can see we have a bit of a problem. When you put your whitening gel in a commercial kit tray you’re not getting a tight seal that locks out saliva. When gel and saliva mix your whitening can get weaker, look splotchy, and even fail completely!

Whitening kits you buy at the store aren’t made for your particular mouth – they’re one size fits all, and you know what that means: they don’t really fit anyone! If you’ve had a bad experience with whitening in the past then your tray was probably to blame for the failure. They’re notoriously bad at delivering results.

How Is KӧR Different?

With KӧR you’re getting a number of things that other whitening systems don’t provide. For starters, let’s talk about how KӧR beats the problem of whitening gel breakdown.

If heat, light, and saliva can cause whitening gel to turn into oxygen and water before it gets to your mouth then those three things need to be accounted for. KӧR gels are refrigerated from the moment they’re made, so temperature is never a problem. That means we – and you – can keep them fresh and effective longer. Not only does that negate problems of strength, it also eliminates issues with shelf life!

KӧR whitening also utilizes something that you simply can’t get with an over-the-counter kit: a custom fit whitening tray. When you come to our Burke office to start a whitening program you’ll be getting an impression taken of your mouth. We use that impression to craft a whitening tray that’s made just for you. Not only will these custom trays encourage an even distribution and coating of gel, but they’ll also seal your teeth off from the rest of your mouth so no saliva can get in.

The strength of our whitening gels are also unmatched by over-the-counter kits. Most carbamide peroxide kits end up with about five percent hydrogen peroxide, while the professional strength we offer with KӧR is a minimum of 16 percent – much stronger than the commercial stuff!

Get a White Smile the First Time

There are two ways you can go about teeth whitening: you can gamble with the unpredictable results of a kit from the drugstore, or you can make a whitening investment at Fox Family Dental that you know will provide results.

We’d love to help you get the smile you’ve always wanted, and we can with KӧR! Give us a call today at 703-978-5253 or request an appointment online. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Why Does Teeth Whitening Fail? | Fox Family Dentistry (2024)

FAQs

Why Does Teeth Whitening Fail? | Fox Family Dentistry? ›

Premature breakdown occurs in a number of situations, such as high temperature, exposure to light, and even exposure to saliva! Because whitening gels break down so easy it's unlikely you're getting a full-strength product when you buy it. That's why most over-the-counter kits have started using carbamide peroxide.

What makes you ineligible for teeth whitening? ›

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.

Why do dentists not recommend teeth whitening? ›

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.

Does teeth whitening not work on some people? ›

If you have gray teeth or internal stains, dental whitening may not be an option. People who have had the antibiotic tetracycline or too much fluoride as a child may have gray stains that are impossible to remove with tooth whitening. People who have had root canal therapy may also have gray teeth.

Who is not eligible for teeth whitening? ›

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.

Why are my teeth still yellow 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.

Is professional teeth whitening bad for your enamel? ›

Studies have shown that professional teeth whitening does not harm enamel. But that doesn't mean your concerns with enamel end there. People will thin enamel on their teeth might not be good candidates for professional teeth whitening.

Is 6% hydrogen peroxide safe for teeth whitening? ›

Choose the right concentration: A low concentration of Hydrogen Peroxide (around 3% to 6%) is safe to use for teeth whitening usually without any side effects. Hydrogen Peroxide can produce certain side effects like gum or tooth sensitivity if used often in high concentration.

What is the most effective teeth whitening method? ›

Option #1: In-Office Laser Whitening

This is one of the popular teeth whitening methods that some people believe is the most effective way to get a brighter smile. Using lasers and peroxide-based whitening agents in a professional setting, this teeth whitening method provides dramatic, lasting results.

Why aren't crest whitestrips working? ›

Teeth Are Not Clean

The chemicals break down the stain molecules that cause teeth to darken. Plaque buildup can block these whitening chemicals from reaching the stained teeth. Schedule a dental cleaning appointment first before using teeth whitening strips. This can prepare your teeth well for the whitening process.

What are the rules for teeth whitening? ›

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.

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.

Are all teeth able to be whitened? ›

Unfortunately, whitening doesn't work for 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.

Why are my teeth not white after whitening? ›

Darkening or relapse of the tooth shade is expected after whitening. Relapse of shade occurs almost immediately as the freshly whitened dehydrated tooth rehydrates. Repetitive prolonged exposure of the chemical is the only way to achieve optimal results.

Why do some peoples teeth whiten better than others? ›

"The nerve in the center, then dentin — which is a yellowish color — then enamel." All of these things are governed by your genetics, and they can all impact the color of your teeth. According to Dr. Huang, people who have thicker enamel and lighter dentin will have brighter teeth naturally.

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