Teeth Whitening Myths

There is never a wrong time for a whiter smile to become a priority. Having a white smile can lead to noteworthy health benefits, from enhancing your appearance to improving your self-confidence. You might even find yourself smiling more often, which alone can have mental health-related benefits. As tooth whitening becomes more common – due to the procedure being more affordable, the widespread availability of over the counter products, and the numerous at-home and do-it-yourself treatments – it is easy to get lost in misinformation that gets misinterpreted as fact. To help understand the truth about teeth whitening, our professional team has listed out the most common tooth whitening myths.

1. Whitening causes extreme tooth sensitivity

Teeth whitening is not a painful treatment process and should not lead to long-term sensitivity. You may experience some degree of sensitivity, however, during and immediately after treatment. If you feel any level of discomfort, you should let your dentist know or stop using a particular product for any at-home treatment. The reason for experiencing sensitivity from teeth whitening is because the applied solution may cause your teeth to become temporarily porous. This allows the whitening agent to remove the minerals that are creating stains in the tooth. After the course of a few days, the natural process of remineralization occurs, which heals the tooth, and any feelings of sensitivity should end. As a result, long-term tooth sensitivity is not a side effect of teeth whitening.

2. Teeth Whitening Damages Enamel

Although short-term tooth sensitivity may be a side effect, tooth whitening does not cause any permanent damage to the enamel. During tooth whitening, the applied bleaching product travels through the enamel and to the second level of the tooth (known as the “dentin”). The dentin is where discoloration occurs, so the whitening agent bleaches this layer in order to reverse staining. Once the procedure is complete, your body begins its natural process of remineralization, where the naturally occurring calcium and phosphate minerals found in saliva deposit to the enamel to repair it. The tooth remains fully functional, and with no damage.

3. Tooth whitening results are permanent

Unfortunately, tooth whitening is not a permanent fix to achieve a whiter smile, although there are ways to increase the time to make your results last. Practicing a healthy dental routine that involves brushing twice per day, flossing, and using mouthwash can allow your teeth to stay whiter longer. Additionally, keep in mind that the same wear and tear that caused your teeth to become stained in the first place can do so again. Drinking red wine, dark tea and coffee, dark-colored soda, and smoking can all lead to the reappearance of tooth stains. And while your teeth are unlikely to return to their original color if you are concerned about maintaining a white smile, you can schedule a touch-up treatment every few months.

4. At-home whitening achieves the same results for less

It’s not uncommon to believe that an at-home or over-the-counter tooth whitening product can provide the same benefits and results as a professional in-office whitening. The products that you find in the store, however, are not as effective as those offered by a professional dental team. The results that you achieve from an in-office treatment are typically more consistent and better because the cleaning agents that are applied are significantly higher concentration bleaching gels. Zoom, Britesmile, Opalescence, and Lumibrite whitening are all popular professional bleaching gel options, and each may only be applied by a trained in-office professional. Brush-on whiteners, strips, or trays that can be purchased for at-home treatments typically use a lower concentration of hydrogen peroxide. This means that you will not get the same degree of shade improvements. As a result, it may be tempting to overuse some of these products, which can actually be more damaging to your teeth in the long run. Although at-home teeth whitening is a cheaper option, it will not provide the same level of results.

Visit Dental365 for teeth whitening treatment.

Our professional teams at Dental365 can restore your teeth by multiple shades and bring back the natural whiteness of your smile. Call us today at 844.365.DENTAL or request an appointment through our website at any time.