Teeth Whitening Options

If your teeth are becoming stained or discoloured, and you want to have a brighter smile again, there are some options for you to choose from. The type of teeth whitening treatment that will work best for you will depend on the severity and cause of your discolouration.

Below are the reasons why your teeth may be discoloured, and some of the teeth whitening options that are available to help.

Causes of Staining

Knowing the causes of your stains is important, as it affects what will be the best teeth whitening treatment for you.

Surface, or extrinsic stains are those caused by strongly coloured foods like coffee or red wine, or from tobacco products.

Intrinsic stains are those that lie underneath the tooth's surface. These are harder to remove, and are usually caused by oral trauma, fluoride overexposure, or certain medications which may cause yellowing and darkening of your teeth.

Some yellowing is caused with aging, as the outer enamel of our teeth wears away, leaving the yellowish dentin that is underneath to show more. Finally, discolouration may be due to plaque buildup and other oral health problems.

Over the Counter and Natural Teeth Whitening Options

Natural Tooth Whitening

You may be considering natural remedies to remove surface stains and whiten teeth, such as coconut oil pulling, activated charcoal, lemon juice, or baking soda. However, they do not offer good teeth whitening results, and can be damaging to your teeth. They may even make your yellowing or dark spots worse. These home remedies are usually abrasives or highly acidic, which can damage and thin your tooth enamel over time, which can allow your dentin to show through more noticeably, causing sensitive teeth.

Over the Counter Whitening Products

Whitening toothpastes offer subtle extrinsic stain removal; they use mild abrasives like calcium carbonate or hydrated silica to gently remove surface stains. Brushing after eating or drinking coloured foods and drinks will help prevent staining, but a whitening toothpaste can help remove light, existing stains

There are at-home teeth whitening products that come in teeth whitening trays, using carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. These often use a whitening gel in the trays that removes surface stains and bleaches teeth.

Whitening strips are also available. Hydrogen peroxide is the active ingredient in most tooth whitening strips. A whitening strip is placed on the upper and lower teeth, making this one of the easiest of the teeth whitening options.

Tooth Sensitivity, Enamel Damage, and Other Potential Concerns with At-Home Treatments

All of the over-the-counter teeth whitening kits and toothpastes will only lighten teeth slightly, usually by one or two shades, and should be used with caution. Like the natural home remedies, they can damage tooth enamel and unintentionally worsen your tooth colour, especially if you have thin enamel or other dental issues to begin with. These can also cause sensitive teeth and gum recession from the hydrogen peroxide or other whitening agents.

Always check with your dentist before trying a new whitening process or at-home whitening products, to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy and that you will benefit from the treatment.

Professionally Whitening Teeth

Professional teeth whitening is the best option for the most dramatic results. A dentist can remove even deep stains and restore highly discolored teeth. With professional cosmetic dentistry, a stronger whitening agent can be safely used to bleach teeth as part of the whitening process.

Your dentist can help you whiten your teeth with in-office treatments, where a whitening agent is applied. A blue LED light then is used to enhance the brightening effects. Alternatively, your dentist may offer you take home trays to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your home.

Not only is dentist-supervised whitening more effective, but it is safer, since the health of your teeth is monitored. The risks of tooth sensitivity, enamel damage, or gum recession are reduced with professional in-office whitening.

Your dentist can also guide you in situations where tooth whitening may not be your best option. For those with multiple fillings, thin enamel, or other concerns, dental restorations like veneers may help you achieve the whiter smile you are looking for.

Achieve Brighter, Whiter Teeth

offers tooth whitening services that will give you a sparkling smile. We will ensure you get to your desired shade, safely. We can also offer you long-lasting, personalized treatment that you cannot get with over-the-counter products, taking the time to ensure you get the smile you envisioned.