All About Whitening
Your pearly whites make a lasting impression. Almost one-third of Americans say that the first part of someone’s face they notice is their teeth and almost one-fourth admit that this is the facial aspect they remember the most after meeting someone. Teeth whitening is such an easy, affordable way to dramatically improve your smile to create that lasting first impression. It’s also one of the safest, most conservative, and most effective cosmetic procedures available to patients! The numbers don’t lie, people are drawn to a bright smile! Americans spend over $1.4 billion annually on whitening products. Even if you think you aren’t interested in a whiter smile… Tell me, did you opt for the “whitening” toothpaste rather than the regular kind?!
Below, we have broken down the facts along with tips & tricks you may need to know to achieve your whitest smile.
GENERAL THINGS TO KNOW:
Some tooth discoloration comes from stains on the outside of the tooth: dark colors from tartar build-up, cigarette smoke, red wine, coffee/tea, etc.
Other discoloration comes from stains inside the tooth: think staining from tetracycline used as a child, hypo-calcification, etc.
Abrasive products (whitening toothpaste) only remove outer tooth stains: think sandpaper for your teeth.
Oxidants remove stains from inside your tooth: think hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide delivered in strips, gels, trays, etc.
Whitening of any kind can cause sensitivity. Use a desensitizer or even just a toothpaste for sensitivity for 2 weeks prior to whitening. Typically over the counter options or non-refrigerated versions will cause the highest levels of sensitivity due to added acidic preservatives, fillers, and the inability to guide the whitening product onto the tooth ONLY and not the roots of the tooth or the gums.
Make sure you get a full dental check-up before whitening to ensure you don’t have any other problems causing your teeth to appear darkened/stained such as cavities, recession, or tooth infection.
Dark tooth root colors showing because of gum recession will not whiten! Only the enamel (outer layer) of your tooth will whiten.
Taking photos of your progress can help determine what whitening process is actually working for you.
UNDERSTANDING WHITENING PRODUCTS & TREATMENTS:
“Whitening” toothpaste: Most whitening toothpastes on the market are just really abrasive… meaning they work similarly to sandpaper… sanding away the stains from your teeth. That also means they sand away the bright, white enamel layer of your teeth… yikes! Dr. Thorn’s recommendation is to avoid whitening toothpaste- Allow us to professionally clean the build-up and outer stains in order to protect your enamel. Opt for a sensitive brand of toothpaste instead.
Charcoal toothpaste: even MORE abrasive than whitening toothpaste. Charcoal toothpastes are almost always advertised as whitening because of their ability to harshly exfoliate the enamel from your tooth. AVOID!
Over-the-counter whitening products (strips, gels, etc.): These products typically lack clinical evidence supporting whitening claims and usually have lower levels of whitening ingredients (such as carbamide or hydrogen peroxide.) This can become expensive when considering the amount of active ingredients per over-the-counter treatment -vs- professionally administered whitening. They also have added acidic preservatives and fillers, which can result in more sensitivity. It is important to choose an option that allows you to control where the active ingredient goes: onto the discolored tooth and NOT onto the root or gums.
Lights and lasers used in a whitening procedure: There is NO clinical evidence that lights or lasers improve the outcome of your whitening treatment. Instead, there is strong evidence that lights and lasers increase sensitivity, heat, and dehydration of the tooth causing it to look whiter for a few hours, then quickly going away leaving behind extremely sensitive teeth. Dr. Thorn’s recommendation: if the whitening procedure involves UV lights or laser applications, walk away!
Non-professional teeth whitening: Think of the booth at the mall or your favorite salon. These services are not regulated, and they often involve the use of light or laser application while a whitening gel sits on your tooth (see above).
Universal fit trays from your dentist: Opalescence Go is a great example of this type of product. It is great because it is affordable, and you can start it today! No need for impressions. Wear for 30 mins-1 hr. Most people can expect results in 1-2 weeks. These products do contain preservatives and aren’t custom fitted to your teeth, so it may not be the best option if you have sensitivity problems.
Custom-fit trays and take-home bleach: A great example here would be KOR day and night white products. It comes in several concentrations- depending on if you’d rather sleep in the product or wear it for 30 mins while you get ready in the morning or watch tv at night. This type of whitening requires an extra step of impressions or a scan of your teeth in order to create custom-fit trays for you. Most people can obtain the best results in 2 weeks.
In-office tooth whitening: a fast option to achieve 1+ shades of whitening quickly, but best if followed up with using take-home whitening trays for 1-2 weeks. In office treatments are best because we can control sensitivity levels and prevent the material from going onto areas of the tooth/gums that it shouldn’t. We apply a professional strength desensitizer before and after the in-office session as well.
For people interested in achieving great results with minimal sensitivity, we recommend out KOR Max option. We wake custom fitted trays that SEAL at the gumline to prevent leakage of product onto your sensitive tissue or roots. It also helps keep the whitening product on the tooth longer without being washed away by saliva. We use 2 weeks of KOR night white gel in the custom fitted trays, then we deliver in office whitening with KOR’s preservative and filler free 34% hydremide peroxide treatment. It is custom mixed and delivered to our office on dry ice, ready for your appointment!
Contact us today for a consultation!
References
https://www.businessinsider.com/things-people-decide-about-you-in-seconds-2016-11#people-judge-how-much-they-should-trust-another-person-after-only-just-meeting-them-1
Demarco FF, Meireles SS, Masotti AS. Over-the-counter whitening agents: a concise review. Braz Oral Res 2009;23(Spec Iss 1):64-70
KOSSATZ S, DALANHOL AP, CUNHA T, LOGUERCIO, REIS A. EFFECT OF LIGHT ACTIVATION ON TOOTH SENSITIVITY AFTER IN-OFFICE BLEACHING. OPERDENT 2011, 36-3, 251-257:
FLOREZ FL, ANDRADE MF, CAMPOS EA, OLIVEIRA JÚNIOR OB, BAGNATO VS AND PANHOCA VH. IN-OFFICE DENTAL BLEACHING EFFICACY ASSESSMENT INUNCTION OF THE LIGHT EXPOSURE REGIME BY DIGITAL COLORIMETRIC REFLECTANCE SPECTROSCOPY. J DENT ORAL HYG VOL. 3(8), PP.99-105, AUG 2011 :
He LB, Shao MY, Tan K, Xu X, Li JY. The effects of light on bleaching and tooth sensitivity during in-office vital bleaching: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Dent. 2012 Aug;40(8):644-53. Epub 2012 Apr 21