Are you having trouble getting your teeth whiter? Have you tried several remedies but still fail to get them white? Well, in this post, we are going to be exploring the reasons why this is, so stick around.
The Foods & Drinks You Consume
You’re not the only one looking for ways to keep those pearly whites—well, white. In fact, teeth whitening is quite a common cosmetic dental procedure. But if you’re thinking about trying this out for yourself, there are some things you should be aware of before starting.
First and foremost, don’t whiten your teeth if they have crowns, caps, fillings, veneers or dentures. Also, avoid whitening procedures when pregnant or breastfeeding and always consult with a dentist or doctor before undergoing any kind of intensive new treatment. Finally: If you have sensitive gums or teeth, whitening may cause temporary discomfort.
Teeth whitening can be a great way to show off your smile and enhance your confidence but it all needs to be done right!
How You Brush Your Teeth Could Be the Culprit.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush. If you’re brushing too aggressively, you may be causing damage to your gums and enamel. A soft-bristled brush will do the job just fine while also protecting your mouth from damage.
Don’t brush too hard. Brushing vigorously can cause gum recession, which allows plaque to build up on the roots of teeth and make them look darker in colour than they otherwise would be.
Gum disease can also lead to gum recession and is one of the reasons why your teeth might appear darker than normal, even after you’ve whitened them with an at-home kit or professional procedures. If you’re not sure that you’re brushing gently enough, consider using an electric toothbrush.
Many models come with sensors that will notify you if you’re pressing down too hard on your teeth when cleaning them.
Brush horizontally instead of vertically and take care to angle the bristles where your teeth meet your gums—this is where plaque tends to accumulate most often, and it’s important that it gets removed before it leads to tooth decay or discolouration.
Your Tooth Colour Can Affect How Well Your Teeth Whiten.
The colour of your teeth depends largely on the colour of the enamel, which is what dentists call the hard outer layer. Enamel is made up of calcium phosphate, and it’s this calcium that makes your teeth appear white.
If you don’t have as much calcium in your teeth, they will look yellower. Teeth can be naturally yellower due to genetics, age or even what you eat. Women who are pregnant tend to get a yellowish discolouration due to hormones and other lifestyle factors.
If you have diabetes and it goes untreated, that can also cause tooth discolouration. Smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco will also turn your teeth coloured or yellow. In many cases like these, whitening techniques are not effective because there is nothing wrong with the strength of your enamel…or lack thereof!
Certain Medications Cause Teeth Discoloration.
Certain medications can also cause your teeth to discolour. This is especially true for medications that contain the ingredient chlorhexidine, like Cervitec and Peridex.
Even some antibiotics, such as tetracycline and doxycycline, can have this effect on your pearly whites—particularly if you take them during the formative years of your mouth (between childhood and age eight). It’s important to note that while tooth discolouration is a common side effect of these drugs, it may not always be permanent.
The best way to know if your medication will affect your teeth? Speak with both your dentist and doctor: they’ll be able to give you expert advice on how to minimize any potential risk or damage.
You Might Be Using a Lower-Quality Teeth Whitening Product.
As you might have guessed, not all teeth whitening products are created equal. Some work better than others, and some can even do damage to your teeth and gums. That’s why it’s so important to know what to look for in a product before you buy it.
The reputation of the tooth whitener is crucial because companies will often claim their products work wonders, when in reality they don’t. When shopping for a tooth whitening product, look for one that has been approved by the American Dental Association (ADA).
These standards require that products be safe, effective and easy to use. The ADA Seal of Acceptance also provides reassurance that a certain product won’t cause harm to your mouth or teeth.
The next time you’re planning on whitening your smile, keep these essential tips in mind! If you have any questions about the best way to navigate this process, ask Drs. Aizenberg-Thomas or Pearlman at Pearlman & Aizenberg Orthodontics today!
You Brush Your Teeth Too Soon After Eating or Drinking.
When you brush your teeth right after eating or drinking, you’re doing more harm than good. Wait 30 minutes before brushing your teeth; if you don’t have that much time, swish instead with some water to rid your teeth of the offending food and drink.
In particular, foods like apples, potatoes and bread are starches that cling to enamel easily, so if you eat one of these items before brushing or even rinsing, the starch can get stuck in between teeth and lead to discolouration.
You’ve been warned about avoiding sugary foods because they’re bad for your overall health—and your smile—but you also need to steer clear of milk as well. The latter is loaded with calcium but can be a culprit for tooth staining because of its high protein content.
Teeth Whitening is Painful for Some People.
Teeth whitening does not come without its downsides—namely, teeth whitening pain. While most people don’t experience significant adverse effects when they try to whiten their teeth, some find that the process can be uncomfortable and downright painful. If you find yourself in this category, it might be because…
There are Ways to Counter This Problem
When it comes to teeth whitening, you may not know where to begin. To get started on the right foot, you need to figure out why your teeth aren’t already white. Then, you can choose a treatment that will fix the problem while keeping costs down.
As mentioned before, there are many different reasons why your teeth may be discoloured. Below is a list of some of the most common causes and the best ways to counter them:
- If you smoke (or have smoked in the past), you’ll need to start by quitting. This seems obvious but it’s true; for smokers and former smokers, quitting smoking is THE BEST way to keep your pearly whites from turning grey. If you don’t quit, every cigarette or cigar reduces your chances of whitening success by as much as 60%.
- If you’re drinking coffee (or tea), try switching to milk instead. Admittedly this is easier said than done—especially if milk makes your coffee taste gross—but it will make a big difference! Besides being lower in caffeine content, milk contains casein which compensates for any loss in flavour while protecting tooth enamel over time