Professional Tooth Whitening – Benefits and Risks « Dentist In Edgecliff Blog « Dentist in Edgecliff – Edgecliff Dental

Professional Tooth Whitening – Benefits and Risks

Tooth whitening is an easy way to improve the appearance of your teeth and your smile. Before deciding on this course of action you need to be aware of any risks and take appropriate measures to reduce them by talking with qualified professional dentists.

As you get older, your teeth can become darker naturally. This process is often increased by drinking tea, coffee, red wine or other food and drink with strong colourings. Another major cause is smoking, which can make your teeth appear discoloured. Decay, fillings and tartar build-up can also contribute to discolouration. If the nerves and blood vessels in teeth are damaged through decay or a knock, this can also make the tooth become darker.

Some types of staining can be caused by diseases or medicines. For example, if a type of antibiotic called tetracycline is given to children whose teeth are still developing; their adult teeth may form with a stained appearance.

Your dentist takes impressions of your teeth, then has special trays made so that they fit your teeth precisely. Your dentist will give you tubes of bleaching gel and instructions on how to put the gel in the mouth trays. You will need to wear the mouth trays for at least 2 hours each day, for at least two weeks, some people prefer to wear them over night. It may take three to four weeks to achieve the colour that you want. Your dentist will give you detailed instructions.

When not to have tooth whitening

There are some instances when a dentist may recommend that you don’t have whitening. For example, if you have tooth decay, this should be treated before starting any whitening treatments. Similarly, your gums should be healthy so if you have any gum disease, this needs treating first, whitening won’t work on false teeth, crowns, veneers or fillings (including tooth-coloured fillings) we recommend that these are replaced after you have achieved a shade with the whitening that you are happy with, then we can match it all up when you are happy with a shade.

If your teeth are extremely sensitive to hot and cold food or drinks,whitening may not be recommended, but there are treatments that we can do to reduce this.

Some types of staining, such as tetracycline antibiotic staining, don’t respond to whitening as well as others. Whitening, if successful, may take longer on tetracycline-stained teeth.

Side-effects of tooth whitening All dental treatment carries a risk of side-effects, which are the unwanted, but mostly temporary effects you may get after a procedure. Tooth whitening side-effects include temporary sensitivity of the teeth to hot and cold, a sore throat, tender gums or white patches on your gums. These side-effects should disappear after a few days. Contact your dentist if the symptoms persist. There is no evidence to suggest that tooth whitening is harmful to the teeth or gums.