If you’ve been hesitating when it comes to whitening your teeth, your cosmetic dentist in Ellington is here to help. It’s truly a shame when misinformation prevents people from pursuing treatments that are designed to be completely safe, so your dentist is doing what they can to dispel whitening myths today. You might be surprised to find a myth you believed is on this list.
Whether it’s the long-term effects teeth-whitening can have on your teeth or the difference between bleaching and whitening, your dentist can explain it in a way you’ll understand.
Myth #1: Teeth-Whitening Treatments are Permanent
After you undergo your first treatment, you may think that’s all you need to keep your smile shining bright. Unfortunately that is not the case. Maintaining whiteness requires at-home care and the occasional touch-up from your dentist. You’ll want to discuss with them what kind of outcome to expect after the treatment is complete.
Furthermore, caring for your investment is not very difficult. Just use a teeth-whitening toothpaste at home to remove any surface stains you encounter throughout your day. Avoid foods that are prone to staining such as red wines, dark colored fruits, coffee, and soda, which can break down enamel due to its acidity. If a food or drink is likely to stain clothing, it will likely stain your teeth as well!
Myth #2: Teeth-Whitening Damages Your Enamel
Non-professional, over-the-counter teeth whitening kits may provide convenience, but when they’re not managed properly it can actually damage your tooth enamel. Dentist can’t recommend them to patients because they can’t regulate the abrasives in them. Professional teeth-whitening, however, has been proven safe for tooth enamel.
This is because, unlike alternative teeth-whitening methods, professional-grade whitening agents do not remove the enamel because they do not target it. In reality, the agents are targeting the dentin behind enamel which absorbs the majority of stains. To achieve this, the chemicals travel through the enamel without removing any of it in the process.
Myth #3: Bleaching and Whitening are the Same Thing
According to the FDA, the term “bleaching” is only allowed to be used when the treatment whitens past its natural color. This means it must contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, the active ingredients in bleach. Whitening, however, is used when treatment restores tooth’s surface color by removing dirt and debris. Technically, all toothpaste can be considered a whitener because it cleans the surface of teeth. The term “whitening” just sounds better to people than “bleaching,” so it’s more commonly used.
When you get in-office whitening done, the dentist will use the more powerful, fast-acting agent hydrogen peroxide to whiten teeth quickly. At-home whitening kits from your dentist use carbamide peroxide, which is about one third the strength of hydrogen peroxide.
Don’t hesitate to contact your dentist about teeth-whitening in Ellington today. Now that you know the facts behind the treatment, you can get your teeth whitened with confidence!
About the Author
Dr. Warren Zahner graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine to earn his Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry degree. Once he completed his residency at the Hartford Hospital Dental Clinic, he worked as an associate dentist before opening his own practice in 1989. To learn more about cosmetic dentistry treatments at his practice, contact him at (860) 870-9031 or visit his website.