As people become conscious of their appearance and personality, there is an ever-growing demand for cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening. Furthermore, with the advent of at-home teeth whitening options, many people now find these domestic whitening options more convenient as they can be performed according to one’s schedule and comfort. However, despite their ease and convenience, many people find that these at-home whitening formulas often cause incomplete or uneven teeth whitening, which can have a negative effect on one’s personality.
If you are also facing this problem, then there is no need to worry; this blog discusses reasons for uneven teeth whitening and how to avoid such as situation. So, read to learn how to get pearly white, evenly bleached teeth when doing at-home teeth whitening.
How To Eliminate White Spots On Teeth From Whitening Strips?
If your teeth have white spots after using whitening strips, you are not alone; this is a common occurrence that happens to many people after the teeth whitening procedure. However, it must be noted that teeth whitening itself does not cause these white spots. Instead, these white spots are already present on the teeth - either because of dental fluorosis or poor mineralisation - and these spots become visible when whitening strips are used.
But the good news is that these spots can be managed using various options:
- Professional Teeth Whitening - using strong yet safe bleaching agents like carbamide peroxide can remove stubborn stains, brightening the tooth surface and masking the white spots.
- Enamel Microabrasion - this is a procedure in which a thin layer of the outer enamel is removed, revealing a new pearly white tooth surface.
- Cosmetic Treatment - if the white spots cannot be removed with the above two procedures, your dentist may consider masking them cosmetically with porcelain veneers.
Why Won't My Teeth Whiten?
While both at-home and professional teeth whitening procedures effectively remove teeth stains, there are certain cases when these aren’t removable. Such issues arise when the teeth stains are either intrinsic (within the tooth structure) or permanent. Intrinsic teeth stains require another special whitening procedure in which bleaching is performed on the tooth’s interior. Similarly, permanent teeth stains cannot be removed with professional whitening. An example of permanent teeth stains is tetracycline-induced stains. So, the only option to treat permanent teeth stains is to mask them using porcelain veneers or crowns.
How Do I Whiten My Teeth When They Are Crooked?
For crooked or chipped teeth, your dentist will first whiten the teeth as such. Afterwards, they will restore the aesthetics and structure of the damaged teeth with cosmetic bonding or veneers, so their shade can be matched precisely with the newly-whitened teeth.
How Long Does Whitening Teeth Last?
Whether teeth whitening is done at home or by a dentist, their whitening effects will not last permanently. Usually, teeth whitening effects last between 6 months to one year. However, the results of whitening can be prolonged by taking care of certain things. For example, maintaining optimal oral hygiene - to prevent staining - through regular brushing and flossing can extend the effects of whitening. Similarly, eating less-staining and fibre-rich foods can help slow tooth staining.
What Is The Best Tooth Whitening Technique? Home Or Dentist?
At-home whitening formulas seem like a cost-effective and convenient option for whitening teeth. However, these formulas are not as effective as the ones used by dentists. This is because professional whitening formulas contain a higher yet safe concentration of bleaching agents, which can bring out significant tooth shade reduction in a single sitting than at-home formulas. So, if you are looking for long-lasting and quick results, you should consider getting your teeth whitened professionally by a cosmetic dentist.
Can Hydrogen Peroxide Really Whiten Teeth?
Most professional teeth whitening formulas contain carbamide peroxide as the bleaching agent. When exposed to light energy, this compound quickly dissociates into hydrogen peroxide, which penetrates beneath the tooth enamel and chemically dissolves all the extrinsic teeth stains. So yes, hydrogen peroxide is highly effective in removing stains from the tooth surface.
Does Teeth Whitening Work On Fillings?
Professional or at-home teeth whitening formulas are effective in removing stains that form on the tooth surface. However, teeth bleaching is not effective on dental fillings, veneers, or crowns. Why? Because the chemical composition and the surface of dental restorations is different from the tooth surface. So, if one has stained dental fillings or crowns, they will need to be replaced with fresh ones after the natural teeth have been whitened.
How Can I Brighten My Teeth At Home?
There are several at-home options available for whitening teeth. Some of them are:
- Teeth whitening domestic formulas
- Teeth whitening strips
- Whitening or smoker’s toothpaste
- Whitening gums
- Natural remedies like oil pulling
Why Don't I Get White Teeth While Brushing Regularly?
Brushing one’s teeth regularly is an excellent way to prevent teeth staining. However, if the shade of the teeth has become due to age changes or intrinsic staining, then brushing may not be effective. In these cases, your dentist will use cosmetic dental procedures, such as professional teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, or crowns, to brighten them.
Teeth whitening done by an experienced cosmetic dentist can do wonders for one’s smile and appearance. So if you are looking for professional teeth whitening in Woodford or the Chingford area of London, request an appointment today and let us give you the smile that you genuinely deserve!
