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Should You Bleach Your Teeth As White As The Grand Rapids Snow?

There are many reasons for tooth discoloration, and even if you take especially great care of your teeth, it can still be hard to keep them as white as they were when you were a little kid.

The solution?

Getting your teeth whitened, but it doesn’t come without a lot of questions. Luckily, Klein Dentistry has the answers.

Professional teeth whitening at Klein Dentistry in Grandville MI

Why Do Teeth Turn Discolored?

If your teeth have started to yellow, take comfort in knowing that it’s a normal part of aging for just about everyone. Just as your hair can turn gray, your teeth can turn yellow. The enamel on your teeth is what gives them their white color, but as you age, your enamel begins to wear away. It’s actually the inner part of the tooth called dentin — not the outer enamel — that yellows.

As your enamel begins to wear away, it reveals the darker tissue that surrounds the nerves and blood vessels in your teeth. You can’t repair this erosion, so your teeth begin to take on more of a dull gray/yellow-ish color.

Along with aging though, there are also ways that teeth can get stained:

Drinking dark liquids like coffee, tea, and pop
Using tobacco products, which contain toxic tar
Being exposed to too much fluoride when young, which can result in stains inside the teeth
Poor brushing habits which result in a plaque buildup
Tooth trauma, which can cause a tooth to die
Taking the antibiotic tetracycline before age 10
Grinding your teeth, which can lead to cracks and dark spots

Why You Should Whiten Your Teeth

There are several different ways that you can whiten your teeth.

Different Ways To Whiten Teeth

Dentists have used in-office fluoride treatments for decades to help protect the oral health, especially in patients who may be at a higher risk due to:

Whitening Toothpaste

It’s as simple as brushing your teeth, and is a great and inexpensive method for removing surface stains. However, it only lightens your teeth superficially with a peroxide derivative which whitens the enamel. It’s relative low strength and low exposure times makes it less effective. It will not change the internal color of your teeth and it may cause tooth sensitivity.

Custom-Made Whitening Trays

These are custom-made by your dentist after taking impressions of your teeth. The trays keep the whitening gel in place, surrounding the 3D surfaces of the teeth, ensuring even coverage. This also keeps the gel away from the gums where it can do harm. However, this is a safe, cost-effective method that can produce excellent results.

Whitening Strips

Each flexible strip is coated with a whitening gel that contains hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, and they mold around your teeth — one on the top and the bottom. While inexpensive, they can also produce uneven results since they’re not custom fit. Whitening strips work best if your teeth are straight and not over-lapped or crowded. They can also lead to increased tooth sensitivity.

Whitening at the Dentist’s Office

This is the most expensive method, but it also produces quick results in a professional setting. Your gums are protected with a rubber dam, and then the dentist or hygienist applies the gel to the teeth for about an hour. It’s chemically-activated, and it starts working as soon as it hits your teeth.

One to two shades of bleaching is typical, and follow-up can be done at home with custom trays. However, this option is not offered by Klein Dentistry, as its cost far exceeds its effectiveness. It uses a very strong solution that produces results more by desiccating the tooth (drying it out) than by actually whitening the tooth.

Who Shouldn’t Whiten Their Teeth

White tooth whitening is a noninvasive procedure, there are some people who should talk to their dentist about their unique situation before making a decision. This includes people who:

Have teeth that are already sensitive
Have gum recession
Have sensitive gums
Are sensitive to hydrogen peroxide
Have multiple cavities tooth decay
Are pregnant or breastfeeding
Are below the manufacturer’s recommended age (usually 14-15 years)

Is Teeth Whitening Worth It?

Deciding to whiten your teeth is a personal decision, but it’s worth the investment of both your time and money if you willing to do it the right way.

If you’re looking for a long-term solution, be sure to look at your habits and see if there’s anything that you can change — perhaps drinking out of a straw or kicking your tobacco habit.

Call Klein Dentistry in Grandville MI to schedule an appointment and learn if teeth whitening is right for you!

To learn more about how we can help you smile brighter than ever, or to schedule an appointment, contact us anytime. We’d love to learn more about your situation and find a plan that’s right for you.