All You Need to Know About Teeth Whitening
A radiant, white smile can significantly enhance your appearance and confidence.
If you’re considering teeth whitening, it’s essential to understand the various aspects of the process.
Here, we’ll discuss the benefits and causes of teeth staining, available whitening options, and what you need to know about these treatments.
What Are the Benefits of Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening offers multiple benefits, including:
Looking Younger
You might appear younger with a whiter grin that removes years from your looks.
Improving Self-Confidence
You can feel more assured and prepared to interact with people with a brighter smile.
Boosting Career Opportunities
A great smile can leave a positive impression, potentially opening doors in your professional life.
Encouraging You to Smile More
Knowing your teeth look their best can encourage you to smile more often, positively impacting your overall mood and how others perceive you.
What Causes Stained or Discoloured Teeth?
Most tooth stains come from external sources rather than within the tooth itself. Common causes include:
- Coffee, tea, red wine, fizzy drinks
- Foods high in colouring, such as soups, curries, and pasta sauces
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
- Medicines
- Poor brushing and cleaning techniques lead to plaque and calculus buildup
- Trauma to the tooth or grinding causing damage to the tooth and its appearance
Regular dental check-ups and cleanings can help minimise external stains. Drinking water regularly after eating and drinking can also help reduce staining.
Some tooth stains are internal, meaning the discolouration comes from within the tooth, often due to development issues or an unhealthy nerve.
What Teeth Whitening Options Are Available?
Whitening Toothpaste
Whitening toothpaste contains abrasives or additives to remove surface stains and revive the tooth’s natural colour. While results are usually minor and temporary, they can be a simple start.
Smile Strips and Preloaded Trays
These are more effective than whitening toothpastes and can be used immediately. However, they might be ineffective or cause damage or sensitivity without professional guidance.
Dental Scale and Polish
A regular dental scale and polish helps maintain a clean and bright smile by removing external stains like coffee, tea, and smoking stains. While they keep teeth clean, they don’t whiten the teeth themselves.
Take-Home Professional Whitening Kits
These kits come with customised trays, a box, and a whitening gel. The process involves:
- Taking moulds of your teeth to create customised trays
- Wearing the trays with whitening gel for about 30 minutes each day for 2-4 weeks
Advantages include:
- Convenience.
- A lower risk of sensitivity.
- The ability to purchase top-up kits at a reduced price.
Professional In-Chair Whitening
This method involves a 1 to 1.5-hour appointment at the dental clinic. The process includes:
- Polishing the tooth surfaces
- Placing a mouth retractor
- Lining the gums with a protective seal
- Applying whitening gel in cycles, repeated 3-4 times based on sensitivity and expectations
What Do I Need to Understand About Professional Whitening Treatments?
Both in-chair whitening and take-home kits are effective, often working best together. The choice depends on whether you prefer a single session at the dentist or multiple shorter sessions at home.
With proper care, results typically last 6-9 months and up to 2 years. Sensitivity can occur but usually subsides quickly, and we guide managing it.
Is Professional Whitening Safe?
Our dentists ensure you’re suitable for teeth whitening and discuss the causes of your discolouration and potential side effects.
Whitening products with more than a 6% concentration of hydrogen peroxide should only be used by a qualified dental practitioner, which is why over-the-counter treatments have lower concentrations.
How Can I Keep My Teeth White?
To maintain your white smile, adopt these habits:
- Brush twice a day (morning and before bed)
- Floss daily
- Avoid smoking
- Limit foods and drinks that stain (e.g., coffee, tea, red wine, soft drinks)
- Avoid acidic foods and beverages that can damage tooth structure
- Drink water regularly when consuming stain-causing foods and drinks
Other Options to Make My Teeth White
Internal Whitening
Internal whitening involves inserting whitening gel into the tooth for 1-3 weeks before sealing it with a permanent filling. This is done for teeth with root canal treatment or darkened due to trauma.
Composite Restorations
Composite fillings can alter teeth’ shade, shape, and texture, requiring occasional maintenance to maintain their appearance.
Veneers
Veneers, made from composite or porcelain, cover the outer surface of a tooth. Porcelain veneers are highly aesthetic and functional but cost more.
Crowns
Crowns involve shaving the tooth structure and are recommended when no other whitening treatments are suitable.
Teeth Whitening in Seven Hills
Ready to transform your smile? Contact us today to schedule a consultation and find the best teeth-whitening solution.
Whether you choose an at-home kit or professional in-chair whitening, we’re here to help you get a radiant smile that improves your confidence and creates a lasting impression.
Our experienced professionals at My Local Dentists Seven Hills help you maintain a healthy, beautiful smile.
$400 for a professional Take Home Whitening Kit (includes custom-made whitening trays and whitening gel)
$850 for In-Chair Teeth Whitening (75-minute appointment. Includes Take Home Whitening Kit)
Contact your Seven Hills dentist at (02) 8605 1696 or schedule an appointment online.
We are at Shop 55, (Ground Floor) Seven Hills Plaza, 224 Prospect Hwy, in Seven Hills.