In today’s world, everyone wants to have a bright white smile. This is the beauty standard that we see all across the media and now thanks to cosmetic dentistry, almost anyone can achieve it. If you have been considering teeth whitening in South Edmonton, here are 10 facts you should know before undergoing the procedure.
1. Teeth whitening is safe
The first thing to consider is that teeth whitening is a completely safe procedure when performed by a dentist near you. There is some misinformation concerning bleaching agents damaging the enamel of your teeth, but the truth is that when administered with moderation by a professional, they don’t cause any problems.
2. Teeth whitening involves synthetic chemicals
During this procedure, your dentist will apply a whitening solution to your teeth that contains a synthetic chemical. This chemical will either be hydrogen or carbamide peroxide, which is used at high concentrations to ensure noticeable results.
3. Oxygen helps brighten your teeth
The way the bleaching agent works is by introducing oxygen to the discoloured molecules on your enamel, which is the outer layer of your teeth. This way, all stains are eliminated.
4. It is only effective on natural teeth
Since hydrogen and carbamide peroxide act by interacting with your enamel, they only work on your natural teeth. Thus, they don’t affect the colour of veneers, fillings, or dental crowns, which is something to consider before undergoing teeth whitening near you.
5. It doesn’t offer permanent results
The results of this procedure are temporary, and if you wish to maintain the colour of your teeth there are some changes you must introduce into your lifestyle. Otherwise, your teeth will become stained again.
6. There is a limit to how white your teeth can be
People often believe that if they have their teeth whitened many times, their teeth will become more and more white. However, the colour of your teeth is predetermined by your genes. Teeth whitening can only remove all the stains and discolouration that have built up on your teeth over the years, but it won’t change their natural colour.
7. In-office treatments are the most effective
There are many ways to whiten your teeth, but the most effective way to do it is by visiting a dentist in South Edmonton. They will be able to use whitening solutions with very high concentrations of the bleaching agents and this results in more drastic changes. On the other hand, at-home treatments like the ones found in pharmacies, don’t have satisfactory results, since their concentrations of hydrogen and carbamide peroxide are very low.
8. It is common to experience tooth sensitivity
People often ask about the side effects of teeth whitening. The most common one is tooth sensitivity. The reason for this is that the bleaching agents dehydrate your teeth and open their pores. As a result, the nerve that lies in the central part of the tooth becomes more exposed to the outside world. Therefore, any temperature changes can elicit pain.
9. Some people shouldn’t undergo this procedure
This procedure isn’t meant for everybody. For example, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should abstain from undergoing teeth whitening. Also, dentists don’t recommend it for children and teenagers. Finally, people with more serious oral health issues such as gum disease are not advised to undergo this procedure.
10. You should watch what you eat and drink
The way to maintain the results of teeth whitening is by avoiding foods and drinks that stain your teeth such as coffee, red wine, dark soft drinks, tea, soy sauce, and tomato-based sauces. Also, it is an extremely wise idea to stop smoking, since this habit causes stains that are challenging to get rid of.