What’s the first thing you notice about a person? For many people, it’s their smile. Did you know that a beautiful smile can make a person appear more intelligent and successful? That could be a life-changing assumption! Beautiful smiles have several qualities, including no stains, no missing teeth, a healthy gum line, no chips or cracks, and perfect alignment.
Teeth whitening is one of the quickest ways to improve the appearance of your teeth. Unfortunately, not all whitening methods are safe. The good news is that it can be done safely! Here are five tips for safe teeth whitening from our Coffs Harbour dentist:
1. Understand dental stains
There are two types of dental stains: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic dental stains alter the dentin, the layer beneath the dental enamel. These stains aren’t cosmetic, and therefore, cannot be treated by teeth whitening methods. An overuse of fluoride, certain medications, trauma, or aging can lead to intrinsic stains. Dental veneers are the most common treatment for intrinsic stains.
Extrinsic dental stains only affect the dental enamel and are typically caused by certain foods and beverages and smoking. These stains become permanent when a person continually exposes his or her teeth to these substances and when tooth-staining agents sit on the teeth for long periods. These are the types of stains that can be treated with professional or over-the-counter teeth whitening products.
Without understanding these differences, people often overuse whitening treatments and cause more damage to their teeth. This can result in severe dental sensitivity, gum irritation, and more discoloration.
2. Consult your dentist
A dental visit is necessary before beginning the whitening process. Dentists will never offer whitening treatments or encourage over-the-counter whitening for patients with cavities, gum disease, or other oral health issues. These problems must be addressed before bleaching begins. Failing to address these issues can lead to more and worse oral health problems.
Additionally, the dentist will tell you whether the stains on your teeth are intrinsic or extrinsic so you know which type of treatment you need.
Finally, a dentist can offer personalized tips for patients who decide to use over-the-counter whitening treatments.
3. Follow instructions carefully
Store-bought whitening gels, strips, pastes, and rinses have specific directions written on the back of the product. Be sure to follow these instructions to a T. Failure to do so could result in damage to the enamel.
4. Be wary of home remedies
While some home remedies do provide some results, most of them only remove surface stains, much like toothpaste. Many home remedies, such as rubbing strawberries on your teeth, can actually harm them if done too often or improperly. Be sure to do your research before trying these at-home whitening methods.
5. Opt for professional whitening treatments
Our best advice to you is to save up or invest in professional whitening treatments. In-office whitening is safe, extremely effective, and long-lasting.
Because a dentist performs the whitening procedure, the process can be customized to your needs, and the soft tissues of the mouth are covered and protected from the whitening gel. Professional whitening treatments provide incredible results in under an hour. In most cases, when patients leave the office, their teeth are up to 8 shades brighter than when they walked in. These results can last up to three years.
Coffs Harbour Teeth Whitening
At Magic Smiles, our team is dedicated to offering safe, effective, and conservative cosmetic treatments that offer dramatic results.
Ready to improve your smile? And possibly your life? Call our friendly dental team today at (02) 6654-0650 to schedule an initial consultation.
