Yellow is for Bananas - Not Teeth

February 2015

Everyone wants a bright, gleamingly-white smile! However, it's common for teeth to get discolored over time, due to the enamel becoming thinner and more transparent. Teeth also get stained from drinks like red wine, coffee, tea, and cola.

While getting your teeth professionally whitened by a dentist is the safest and most effective way to get a cleaner, brighter smile, home-whitening methods continue to be popular among consumers. If you do go the home-whitening route, be sure to have us perform a professional cleaning and mouth exam first. At Fine Dentistry by Design, we can let you know if you're a good candidate for teeth-whitening - and a cleaning will help maximize your results.

Whitening products come in pastes, gels, pens, and strips. Be sure that the whitening products you use are approved by the American Dental Association (ADA). Peroxide, which is a bleaching agent that is generally safe for teeth, is the main ingredient in most whitening products. You'll want to choose a product that has no more than a ten percent concentration of bleach.

Do not attempt to whiten your teeth if you have dental crowns or veneers, as they won't whiten properly and thus will not match the rest of your teeth. In addition, you shouldn’t try whitening if your teeth are especially sensitive.

Don’t go too overboard with whitening…you don’t want to start looking like the Cheshire Cat where all you see is blindingly bright teeth when you walk into the room….Too much bleach can even give your teeth a bluish tint! Be sure to carefully follow the instructions on whichever product you choose.

You really will get faster and more effective teeth-whitening results in our office, but as long as you use safe products that are approved by the ADA, you'll be okay doing the whitening at home. If at-home whitening doesn’t get you where you want to be, we can help you get that Hollywood smile!

Please remember that at Fine Dentistry by Design, we are here for you! If you have any questions about this or anything else concerning your dental health, please give us a call at 301-984-2200