How Does Tooth Whitening Impact Your Mouth?

Your teeth should be examined by a dentist before any bleaching program – here’s why.

Safe, dentist-supervised teeth whitening programs can achieve great results, but before you get started on any bleaching treatments, it is important to talk to your dentist about your unique situation and what you can expect. If teeth whitening is on your radar, here are some things your dentist will consider when it comes to the impact of teeth whitening on your mouth.

1. What is the cause of your tooth staining or tooth discolouration?

There are a variety of possible reasons for stained teeth, from smoking or medications to an individual’s natural tooth colour. Your dentist will consider these causes when recommending whether bleaching treatments are right for you, and which methods will be most effective. For example, teeth stained by smoking or discoloured from enamel fluorosis or from exposure to medications such as tetracycline during tooth development will be more difficult to whiten. In other cases, tooth bleaching will very effectively remove surface stains.

Read more about preventing staining in this post.

2. Do you have any previous dental work that will impact teeth bleaching treatments?

If you’ve had restorations such as bridges, crowns, or veneers, it’s important to understand that these will not whiten consistently with natural teeth. If teeth whitening is something you are interested in and you are also considering a restoration, be sure to talk to your dentist sooner rather than later!

3. Do you have tooth sensitivity, or damaged teeth?

Sensitive teeth or teeth that are chipped, eroded, or weakened by cavities should be repaired or protected before teeth whitening treatments are applied for the best, brightest results. Your dentist may recommend that you don’t go ahead with teeth bleaching if you have very sensitive teeth, periodontal disease, or teeth with worn enamel.

4. Do you have any other risk factors to consider?

Lastly, be sure to tell your dentist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding when discussing teeth whitening, as your dentist may recommend waiting to carry out any bleaching treatments.

If you have more questions about tooth whitening options, be sure to read our Tooth Whitening 101 article. And don’t forget that to get the facts on the impact of teeth whitening on your teeth and mouth, you need to be examined by your dentist! Book a consultation here.