If you’re looking for an easy way to boost your confidence, consider whitening your smile. Even though some tooth discolouration is perfectly natural, it’s still not ideal. A yellowing, faded, or generally lacklustre smile can cause embarrassment and self-consciousness, making you hesitant to grin or laugh in public.
Diet, tobacco, and age are the most common culprits behind a faded smile. Simply enjoying a daily cup of coffee or glass of red wine can have depressing, long-term consequences for your teeth.
Fortunately, teeth whitening treatments exist to rescue your smile and restore its brightness. Your best option for reliable and long-lasting results is to opt for a professional smile makeover from your dentist, rather than rolling the dice on DIY methods.
Professional Teeth Whitening for a Brighter Smile
The most effective and safest way to remove stains, reverse discolouration, and achieve a brighter smile is through professional teeth whitening. Different dental clinics offer different types of teeth whitening as part of their cosmetic dentistry services. Whether you opt for in-office whitening or a professional take-home whitening kit, your treatment will deliver the desired results without compromising your oral health.
At Bloor West Smiles, we provide custom, take-home whitening trays so you can safely brighten your smile in the privacy and comfort of your own home. We begin with an initial consultation to determine your whitening goals and perfect the fit of your custom trays. You are also given clear instructions to ensure safe and effective at-home whitening.
The Risks of Whitening Your Teeth With DIY Methods
At first, many mistakenly believe that DIY teeth whitening is equivalent to professional teeth whitening in effectiveness and safety, only with added convenience and affordability. However, this could not be further from the truth!
There are many significant risks associated with over-the-counter teeth whitening products and home remedies. Although marketed as easy, quick fixes to tooth discolouration, these methods should be avoided. The safest and most effective way to brighten your smile is always with the help of your dental team. After all, our job is to protect your oral health.
Here are a few of the most common negative side effects of DIY teeth whitening:
Enamel Erosion
Over-the-counter whitening kits and some home remedies can cause irreversible damage to your enamel. Strong tooth enamel is critically important, since it acts as a protective barrier between the tooth’s inner layers and the outside world. When it weakens, your teeth become more susceptible to decay, cavities, sensitivity, and infection.
Some at-home whitening solutions contain highly acidic substances, carbon dioxide, or dangerously high levels of bleach, which cause enamel erosion. Excessive use of baking soda, often used in home remedies, can also break down your enamel.
Gum Irritation
The harsh chemicals present in many DIY whitening kits can also cause gum irritation, leading to discomfort, pain, and even bleeding. Your gums are sensitive tissues, so these aggressive products are not a good idea. In the worst-case scenario, gum inflammation may lead to infection and result in long-term damage.
Professional cosmetic dentistry whitening provides a safe avenue for teeth whitening. Our solutions are specially formulated to not cause gum irritation.
Increased Sensitivity
One of the consequences of weakened tooth enamel is increased tooth sensitivity. Consequently, many people experience heightened tooth sensitivity after DIY whitening treatments, especially following prolonged use or overuse.
When your teeth become more sensitive, you typically feel pain or discomfort when consuming hot or cold beverages. Your teeth may even start to ache when you go outside on a particularly cold day. Obviously, this negatively impacts your quality of life.
Lackluster Results
With all of these risks, you would hope that DIY teeth whitening at least provided adequate results. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
At-home whitening kits are not nearly as effective as the smile makeover you receive at Bloor West Smiles. While some products contain too much whitening agent, others do not have enough. As a result, they fail to whiten the teeth to the desired shade. Alternatively, improper application can lead to splotchy and uneven results.
5 Tips for Maintaining Your New, Brighter Smile
Even professional dental teeth whitening doesn’t last forever. Your smile still has to contend with the same environmental and lifestyle factors that caused the discolouration in the first place. Unless you plan on giving up coffee, tea, alcohol, or tomato sauce, your new pearly whites will eventually start to fade.
However, don’t despair! There are several steps you can take to preserve your glistening smile after receiving teeth whitening dental care from Bloor West Smiles.
- Avoid acidic food and beverages for 48 hours after your teeth whitening procedure. Coffee, tea, red wine, fruit (and fruit juices), and even soy sauce can negatively affect the procedure’s effects.
- After those initial 48 hours, it’s still a good idea to remain conscious of staining foods and drinks. However, this doesn’t mean that you have to abandon your precious morning coffee or evening glass of red wine entirely! One easy way to minimize the effects of these staining substances is to rinse your mouth with water immediately after taking a sip. This minimizes the contact between your teeth and the tannins or pigments.
- Hydration is crucial for your oral health. It’s also very helpful for smile brightness. Taking frequent sips of water throughout the day washes away food particles and staining substances before they have a chance to affect your teeth. Make a habit of rinsing your mouth with water after eating or drinking, particularly if you consumed something containing staining compounds.
- Good oral hygiene doesn’t just help to prevent cavities; it also keeps your smile brighter! Every day, your teeth are exposed to bacteria and staining compounds. Brushing your teeth (twice a day for two minutes) scrubs away these harmful substances, preserving your bright, white, and glistening smile.
- Professional dental cleanings play a crucial role in maintaining your teeth whitening results and protecting your overall oral health. During your appointment, a hygienist removes plaque, tartar, and surface stains that survived your at-home brushing. This alone can leave your smile looking noticeably brighter.
Professional Cosmetic Dentistry Services From Bloor West Smiles
Bloor West Smiles offers a variety of cosmetic dentistry services, including professional teeth whitening using fully customized take-home trays. This is the safest and most effective option for whitening teeth.
Rather than risking your oral health with DIY whitening kits or home remedies, trust the dental experts at Bloor West Smiles. Contact us today to book your consultation and move one step closer to having the bright smile of your dreams.
To learn more about our teeth whitening services in Toronto, call Bloor West Smiles at 416-766-2853 or contact us here.
Sorry, comments are closed for this post.