Debunking Common Teeth Whitening Myths
Teeth Whitening is a quick, inexpensive and easy way to improve the look of your smile, so it’s a wonder that a lot more people aren’t giving it a try. The reason whitening isn’t as popular as it should be is mainly due to the myths associated with it – so we’re going to break down the top 6 myths associated with teeth whitening, and hopefully dispel any apprehension you may have about this awesome treatment!
1. Teeth Whitening makes your teeth sensitive:
A little bit of sensitivity following whitening is normal, and can be minimized by your clinician and treated quite easily. This is merely temporary and will disappear after a few hours at most. Some people experience no sensitivity at all, and others a little more. This is also due to the wear and tear on the teeth, and can be made worse by problems such as erosion from diet, hairline cracks or grinding where the enamel has been worn through and the dentine is exposed. Our oral hygienist will block these areas out during the in-chair procedure to minimize any chance of sensitivity.
2. Teeth Whitening Damages the Enamel
When the treatment is performed by a dental professional, using the correct materials approved by Dental associations and registered with the Medicine Control Council, there is no risk to your tooth enamel at all.
3. Whitened Teeth look Unnatural
Teeth whitening is a progressive treatment, so it lightens your teeth by a few shades each time you go. When you do the in-chair procedure you will walk out with an amazing result of up to 8 shades whiter but will still need to do about a week of home whitening to ensure the colour holds. The more you can do in combination with your in-chair whitening the longer the colour lasts and the less often you need to maintain it. The results are stunning, but definitely not unnatural. In fact, if you feel that your teeth are getting “too white”, you can stop the treatments. Always bleach for a few days past your desired result, as the colour will dip by a shade or so when you stop the whitening. Each person has a different whitening end point where the teeth stop changing colour. This is also where its important to stop whitening and go onto maintenance of for e.g. 30 minutes wearing the trays per month.
4. Whitened Teeth Stay White
Unfortunately, whitened teeth will continue to stain over time. Tea, coffee, wine and smoking stains teeth whether they have been whitened or not so we recommend cutting down in order to maintain your results. You can also whiten your teeth every few months to refresh and brighten your smile. The amount of maintenance needed depends on the individual’s habits and the amount of home whitening that was done initially. The faster you bleach the faster you fall back, which is why there is no such thing as a one off in chair appointment to solve all your whitening problems.
5. Fruit removes stains.
Many people believe that rubbing fruits such as bananas, lemons and strawberries on their teeth will brighten their smiles. The reality is that fruits will do more harm than good, and will cause a number of problems when rubbed on teeth regularly. Fruit acids and sugars will corrode and damage your teeth, making them sensitive and susceptible to cavities.
6. Active Charcoal Whitens Teeth
There is a big difference between whitening products and bleaching products. Whitening products are any products that remove surface stains and give the tooth a whiter, cleaner appearance. this includes activated charcoal, toothpastes and oral hygiene cleaning appointments. Bleaching is where we actually change the internal colour of your teeth using a chemical process with either hydrogen or carbamide peroxide. We simply decolourise the attuning molecules in the tooth, so there is no structural change or damage at all.
Activated charcoal is great for maintaining your pearly whites after in-chair bleaching or take-home bleaching, and removes stains and toxins so it actually helps with the health of the mouth too. We sell a product called Charwhite which is specially made for your teeth and completely natural. It is so fine that it is mild enough to use on a daily basis and still won’t cause any damage to your teeth.
For optimal teeth whitening, teaming up with us is the best way to get the results you want. We understand oral health and can put together personalised recommendations that allow you to get the best results in a time frame that works for you. We’ll also help you understand how the whitening process works, monitor your progress and treat any sensitivity issues that may very rarely arise.
