Teeth Whitening 101

Before teeth whitening

Before a teeth whitening treatment, it is necessary to have your teeth cleaned and to undergo a comprehensive dental examination to make sure that you do not have any defective restorations or cavities.

Your dentist will also determine the cause of your tooth discoloration which is crucially important to ensure the success of your treatment.  The color change can be superficial, meaning that it is caused by tartar and plaque accumulation on the tooth.  These deposits become colored over time due to frequent consumption of tobacco, coffee, tea or red wine.

A simple teeth cleaning and polishing can give you a satisfactory result.  In other cases, the staining comes from the enamel and dentin and is caused by natural aging, tooth decay, consumption of tobacco and some medications.

Over-the-counter whitening products

Various whitening products are available at the drugstore.  These kits come in the form of self-adhesive tapes, products to be applied to the toothbrush or in gutters.  The active ingredient is similar to the one used in the dental practice, but at a lower concentration.  Sensitivity and irritation are possible side effects. They are more frequent with this type of treatment because the gutters are not custom-made.