Is Teeth Whitening for You?

There are multiple cosmetic treatments available to help you improve your smile, but teeth whitening happens to be the most popular. People with whiter and brighter smiles are positively perceived by the society compared to those with stained or discolored teeth. They are thought to be more attractive, trustworthy, smarter and even wealthier. This in turns boosts their confidence and self-esteem and makes it easier for them to score opportunities. A brighter smile is also thought to be an indication of good oral and overall health. For all these reasons, many people are turning to teeth whitening as an affordable and less invasive way of improving their smiles and appearance.

What Exactly is Teeth Whitening?

This is a treatment that involves bleaching the enamel of your teeth to achieve a lighter shade. The procedure is only effective for extrinsic stains and cannot fix anything that is beneath the enamel layer. Extrinsic stains develop over time and are caused by the foods and drinks we consume, aging and habits like smoking. Brushing and flossing alone cannot keep the teeth white and after a certain period it is inevitable that the enamel will begin to appear yellowish.

Using a whitening agent, your dentist in Terrell Hills can improve the appearance of your teeth by several shades. It is not always guaranteed that the end results will be pearly white but there should be a significant improvement depending on the whitening technique used.

Who is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?

Like with every other dental procedure, it is important to get the approval of your dentist before undertaking teeth whitening in San Antonio. Your dentist will evaluate an examine your teeth and mouth before definitely making a decision on whether the procedure is suitable for you or not. You will only benefit from the treatment if:

• Your Teeth Are Natural: Teeth whitening only works on your natural teeth and will not improve the shade of any restorations you may have such as bonding and crowns. So, if you are considering restoration treatments, it is best to whiten your teeth before. Thereafter, your restorations can be matched to the new shade of your teeth that is achieved after the whitening procedure.

• Your Gums and Teeth Are Healthy: There is no dentist in 78209 that will perform a whitening procedure whilst you still have pending dental issues. This is why a dental exam is performed prior to the procedure to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy enough. If you are suffering from gum disease or cavities, it is best to have those problems treated before taking a whitening treatment.Patients with sensitive teeth or any allergies should also disclose this information to their dentist to avoid any complications thereafter. Since teeth whitening tends to make teeth a little more sensitive for a while, existing tooth sensitivity may disqualify you from the procedure. In the case of allergies, peroxide is the active ingredient in most whitening agents an if you cannot tolerate it, then you cannot have your teeth whitened.

• You Only Have Extrinsic Stains: If the stains and discoloration on your teeth extends to the inner layers of the tooth past the enamel, then a whitening procedure will be futile. This means that staining caused by damage to the tooth or fluorosis cannot be fixed. In most cases, whitening will only get rid of yellowish stains. If your teeth have deep brown or grew stains, then you need to consider other treatments such veneers, tooth bonding and dental crowns.

Before rushing to a dentist office near you for a whitening procedure, keep in mind that it is a process that requires patience. You may need multiple whitening treatments before you can achieve the desired results. Your expectations also have to be realistic as the treatment does not guarantee snow-white teeth. You can only achieve teeth a number of shades lighter. The results from the treatment are also not permanent and you will need to continuously care for your teeth to maintain the new brighter smile. There might be need to whiten your teeth again after a couple of years.