What Makes Teeth Whitening Work and Why You May Need It

 Teeth whitening, as an industry, has grown by leaps and bounds over the last several years. This is because more people have become aware of the importance of beautiful, healthy looking teeth. Today, you can get your teeth whitening done in a clinic with one of our experts, or use an over the counter do it yourself solution. Either way, people all over the country are whitening their teeth in record numbers.

When you consider the fast pace at which modern society functions, and the incessant need for speed and attention, there is little wonder that teeth whitening has gotten so popular. There are now hundreds, if not thousands, of products available that give you a boost in energy but also can damage, discolor, or stain your teeth. Energy drinks, cola products, and caffeine based coffee and tea are the most popular. Coffee is perhaps the most well-established of the caffeine solutions. Over 54% of the adult population drinks at least one cup of coffee every single day, of these 68% will do so within an hour of waking up. This means that a large segment of the population will drink coffee shortly before or shortly after brushing their teeth. Coffee is extremely rich in chromogens, which can and will stain your teeth with extensive use.

The widespread use of coffee and other products has resulted in an increased need for oral hygiene and teeth whitening products.

Your teeth whitening is made possible by a chemical reaction, which is caused by the formula of the teeth whitening solutions. These chemicals are designed to whiten the teeth, but not for frequent usage, which is why we make two recommendations for people who want to whiten their own teeth. We always advise that you seek the advice and guidance of a dentist prior to whitening your teeth. This will allow us to give you recommendations, and even more importantly, to inspect your teeth. Often there are small, easy to fix, underlying problems that could be irritated by the use of a teeth whitening solution. Fixing these will allow you to proceed with your whitening without any challenges. Second, we ask that you follow the instructions on the packaging or given by our team, regarding how often you should be whitening your teeth. Too frequent teeth whitening, or too much overuse of the products, can result in your teeth becoming extremely sensitive and may even lead to other challenges that you will need dental solutions for.

What makes teeth look white?

Think of you teeth as tiny reflectors, which reflect natural white light. The clearer the reflection, the better the angle of the light reflected, and the whiter your teeth will look. The purpose of the peroxide based solutions that teeth whitening uses is to make the teeth more colorless. The peroxide absorbs easily into the enamel, where it goes to work releasing free radicals into the natural organic makeup of the tooth. These free radicals remove excess color, causing the tooth to be more colorless and hence appear to the brain as being whiter and brighter that before. 

Learn About Teeth Whitening Products Before Buying Them

Here is an interesting fact about teeth whitening. Did you know that out of the millions of Americans who use an over the counter teeth whitening solution this year, one in every twenty-five (1/25) will have to be seen by a dentist for a level of pain or discomfort? This pain varies from the mild and bearable to the “I’m in so much pain, a root canal sounds good”. It is important to note that this isn't because teeth whitening is bad, in fact, when we perform the procedure it is pain-free. The discomfort is typically caused by ill-fitting trays or overuse. 

Solutions for teeth whitening have been around forever. The earliest tooth brushing was invented to try and keep teeth white and healthy while ancient cultures are known to have rubbed charcoal on their teeth to make them whiter. Needless to say men, and women, have been obsessed with having white teeth for a very long time. Enter the modern world where consumerism drives everything, and there are now a million solutions available easily, and over the counter, at your local pharmaceutical store. While convenience is wonderful, it also carries its own set of risks as many people whiten without the help of a professional. 

The massive influx of products has created the only known problem with teeth whitening. Overuse is a common and sometimes painful problem for people who whiten their teeth. But why do people overuse the products? We believe that the answer is simple and starts with the quest for the perfect white teeth and brilliant smile. Over-the-counter products do a great job of getting the smile back the first time. However, what most will not tell you is that after a while, a smile starts to fade, and the brilliance of the teeth’s whiteness starts to diminish. Naturally the teeth will once again start to stain and return to a less than optimal color that is more natural. This is upsetting to some people, and the tendency is to then use the product again, and again, and keep using it every time the smile fades even slightly. 

As dentists, we recommend not using a whitening product more than once every 4 to 6 months. This avoids overuse and protects your gums from getting irritated from over exposure to the bleach and other chemicals that are found in the whitening agents. Teeth whitening is designed to help whiten your teeth, but not on a monthly basis. Frequent users, sometimes whitening their teeth more than once a month, are at greater risk for irritation or applying the product to a cavity or infected gum. Any of these scenarios can lead to discomfort. 

Our advice is simple. Don’t overuse over the counter teeth whitening products. If you want your teeth to get whiter, have the procedure done at our office instead.  Our solutions are more effective than anything you can buy at the store and we will ensure your comfort during the process.