Should you consider whitening your teeth? There are a number of factors to consider before you go that route. It’s always smart to be cautious and to know everything you can know before you apply chemicals to your teeth.
What is the Condition of your Teeth?
If you can’t answer that because you haven’t been to the dentist in the last year, that’s not good. Sensitive or hurting teeth will only hurt more if you whiten them.
The strong bleach in whitening products will inflame tissue and teeth. It’s not worth risking that when the solution is simple.
You need to go to the dentist and get a clean bill of health before you whiten your teeth. Cavities, gum disease, and other tooth decay issues should be identified and addressed first. Furthermore, a trip to the dentist gives you a chance to ask their opinion about the ways to whiten your teeth.
How Can You Protect Your Gums?
If your teeth are in good shape, you can consider a whitening product. You need to protect your gums from the whitening product. The kit should help you do that. Unfortunately many kits omit protection for your gums. For those who suffer from sensitive teeth, this type of whitening kit will definitely make it worse.
What Kind of Dental Work Do You Have?
If you have dental work in your mouth where it can be seen, be aware that whitening products won’t change the color. For instance, if you have a bonded tooth, the bonding material will not be bleached. That could leave you with uneven whitening that can look bad, defeating your purpose.
Why are Your Teeth Discolored?
Unfortunately some teeth discoloration will not be solved by whitening. This is often evident by a patchiness after a person uses over-the-counter whitening. In a dental office, you will be forewarned about this type of problem.
Furthermore, there are genetic and environmental reasons that a person’s teeth are discolored. It may date back to childhood or be caused by an illness. These conditions may not respond to teeth whitening. In those cases, the only way to get white teeth is to get veneers which are attached to the outside of the tooth. These are expensive, but the procedure is definitely common in the United States.
How Can You Prevent Discoloration?
There are strategies to prevent discoloration. The first is to get regular teeth cleanings. After all, removing the plaque from your teeth is the first thing anyone should do if they want their teeth to be whiter. Obviously following the daily brushing schedule is also important.
An additional strategy is to avoid the types of drinks that can stain your teeth. Some of these include dark fruit juices, red wine, coffee and black tea. Beyond that, you should avoid sugar and sodas as these substances eat away at tooth enamel.
Is Professional Teeth Whitening Worth It?
Once you’ve covered all of the angles, you may want to consider having your teeth whitened at the dentist’s office. This ensures that you’ll be told about any existing conditions that will prevent your teeth from turning white again. It also ensures that your gums will be protected from the strong bleaching agents.
If your teeth are crooked, a bonding material can be applied to make them look straighter. Likewise, a missing tooth can be replaced. Either of these actions go a long way toward making your smile look better.
You have every reason to want whiter teeth. Just be cautious about grabbing the first product on the shelf and applying it to your teeth.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
