Teeth whitening

Today I met with a new client in our office and as part of our discussion we landed on a topic that we cover often – teeth whitening. I am always struck by two constants. First, people want it, and second, hardly anyone understands it.

There are a great many things that we can do with modern dentistry that have a profound impact on a person’s health and well being that are never seen or appreciated by anyone really. Cleanings, crowns on back teeth, treatment of abscesses to name a few. Everyone on the other hand, appreciates teeth whitening. Very few people don’t desire to have a whiter and brighter smile, and fewer yet fail to notice one.

Photo: Thinkstock.com

However, there are some general concerns around the topic. “Will it make my teeth more porous?”, “Will it make my teeth weaker?”, “Does it remove parts of my teeth?”, “Does whitening make me more prone to cavities, or make my teeth more sensitive?” I field these questions almost every time the subject comes up.

The reality is your tooth is made up of a bunch of tiny crystals – just like a sugar cube is made up of a bunch of little grains. Your tooth is sealed with a layer called a pedicle. Over time, color rich things such as coffee, red wine, blueberries, and other such items leach color or chroma through the pedicle and settle between the little crystals. Whitening products simply temporarily remove the pedicle and set to work on removing the color particles from between the crystals. The structure of the tooth is unchanged and unharmed. Once the whitening process is completed the pedicle will reform taking approximately 36 – 48 hours to do so.

There are a variety of products available to whiten and brighten your smile. Each will have its advantages and disadvantages. In addition, there are some situations that may result in your not being a good candidate for whitening. These are discussions to be had with your dentist. Once we have the opportunity to assess your particular situation and any associated particular challenges/concerns then we will be able to make the best possible recommendations for you.

A whiter, brighter smile will have you smiling with more confidence and more frequency. Smiles are contagious, and I recently read a quote stating, “Your day will go the direction the corners of your mouth turn.” Look into having your smile improved with simple and effective teeth whitening today.

If you have any questions, concerns, or topics you’d like me to address, simply email me at [email protected].

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.