Having white teeth is something that a lot of people strive for. Some may use a whitening toothpaste every time they brush their teeth, or visit a local dentist Vancouver for professional whitening. Regardless, white teeth are attainable. But there are a few things that you should know before you start a teeth whitening regimen.
1. Teeth Are Absorbent
Just like your skin and a sponge, your teeth have pores. Anything that has color and goes into your mouth gets absorbed into these pores—wine, coffee, dark berries and smoking are extremely active in staining teeth. Over time, your teeth will naturally begin to darken as a result of these stains that your teeth have absorbed. These stains will be permanent unless you actively remove them. Teeth whitening gel is effective at restoring your teeth to a natural white, by absorbing into your teeth and pushing the stains out through the pores that initially absorbed them.
2. Whitening Does Not Damage Your Teeth
When used as directed, professional teeth whitening is incredibly safe for your teeth. The active ingredients found in teeth whitening solutions work to temporarily open the pores in your teeth and remove the stains. Some people may find their teeth get a little more sensitive during whitening treatments. This is temporary sensitivity as the pores in the teeth open up and disappear after a few days. After each session of teeth whitening, your teeth will naturally remineralize and rehydrate closing these open pores and making the process a safe method to whiten your teeth.
3. Stains Aren’t Removed Overnight
Stains take time to develop and become prominent on your teeth, which means that they will require time to be removed and return your teeth to a natural white. There is no product available that can safely penetrate deep enough into your teeth and whiten your teeth overnight. In fact, depending on the type of treatment, the whitening process can sometimes take several days for optimal results. It is important to be patient and understand that the process is going to take time. Each session of teeth whitening removes years of stains; once all stains are removed it is easier to maintain a white smile.
4. Caps and Veneers Cannot be Whitened
When caps and veneers are placed, they are created to match the color of your surrounding teeth and cannot be changed. Caps and veneers will not stain nor will they whiten with the use of teeth whitening treatments.
5. Not Everyone Can Have Perfectly White Teeth
The natural color of your teeth (genetic makeup) is established at birth. The only thing that professional teeth whitening can do is to remove the stains that have accumulated on your teeth over time. While you might not be able to achieve a perfect white color, you will be able to have whiter, natural looking teeth with years of stains removed. Teeth are also inherently yellow on the inside and white on the outside. Teeth that have a thin or worn down outer enamel layer will never appear perfectly white because the white layer of tooth is not present.
To learn more about teeth whitening, visit your dentist Vancouver. You might be surprised by the results that you can achieve with professional teeth whitening. Don’t put off whitening your teeth any longer, make an appointment to visit Atlantis Dental Roundhouse today!