3 Important Things To Know About Teeth Whitening Procedures

Tooth whitening is a common cosmetic procedure that not only gives you a better smile, but also makes your teeth cleaner as well by eliminating any accumulated yellow plaque. If you're planning to get a tooth whitening service, this article educates you on the lesser-known facts of tooth whitening so that you can be better prepared when you meet your dentist. Read on to learn more.

Different teeth whitening processes offer different results

There are different types of teeth whitening services available. There is in-chair whitening, power whitening and use of teeth whitening kits. In-chair whitening is where the dentist treats your teeth in the office. Power whitening is the same as in-chair whitening with the addition of a special light that makes the process quick, and whitening kits are for self-use at home. All these will improve the shade of your teeth color, but with varying results.

 After evaluation, a dentist can recommend the best treatment for you. This will be determined by the condition of your teeth and the level of result you seek. Generally, in-chair whitening can improve your teeth color by up to 3 shades while power whitening does the same, only faster. Home kits achieve one or two shades and are mostly used for gradual oral maintenance.

Teeth whitening is not permanent

As much as you would like the result of your teeth whitening to last forever, they don't. Over the years, your teeth will lose their luster due to your eating habits, your level of oral hygiene and age. As a result, you may have to go for teeth whitening repeatedly to maintain brilliant white teeth. However, regular brushing and flossing, plus avoidance of foods that will stain your teeth such as red wine and coffee, can greatly maintain the appearance of your teeth over long periods.

Not everyone's teeth can get sparkling white

Most people would like to have sparkling white teeth. However, this may not be possible for everyone. For one, genetics has an effect on teeth colour, so some races have brighter smiles than others. Two, one's lifestyle and diet, as explained before, may affect the maximum result one's teeth may achieve. Through a dental color chart, a dentist can explain the best whitening results for you. This means that even with repeated whitening treatments, extreme expectations of teeth whitening may be unrealistic.

With this in mind, anyone planning teeth whitening can keep their expectations in check and avoid stepping beyond the limits of the process. Luckily, even after in-chair treatments, one can always use home kits to maintain the new smile and perhaps make it brighter over time.