Having pearly white teeth is one of the most desired beauty standards one can attain in the West. Like it or not, having shining white teeth can make a big impact on the way one is perceived. But is teeth whitening safe on tooth enamel?

That’s why so many dentists and orthodontists offer teeth-whitening services. However, many patients have questions about how this process might impact the rest of their dental health, including their enamel.

Is Teeth Whitening Safe on Tooth Enamel?

The reassuring answer is that teeth whitening shouldn’t have an impact on one’s enamel. This should open the pathway for more patients to seek out this life-enhancing treatment from their Pasadena dentist.

Teeth Whitening: the Basics

During tooth whitening, a dentist applies a whitening product to the teeth that penetrates the enamel. The enamel is the first layer of the tooth’s protective layers. The whitening agent moves beyond the enamel and penetrates the second layer, known as the dentin.

This penetration allows the whitening product to whiten the enamel from within. Many patients comment that this causes a temporary sensitivity in their teeth. However, as stated, this sensitivity should fade with time.

One should be assured that this process does not permanently damage the teeth in any form or fashion.

The Types of Whitening Products

There are several different types of teeth whitening products that can be utilized by patients. Which one you select will likely have to do with a set of determining factors. Some of these factors include your dental history, the current status of your teeth, and the rest of your medical profile.

There are three primary types of teeth whitening products. These include products:

administered by your dentist at the office.
dispensed by your dentist for use at home.
dispensed over the counter without the oversight of your dentist.

Each one of these products has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. For example, over-the-counter teeth whitening products might be less expensive but will have less lasting results than the dental products offered by a professional.

Using Teeth Whitening Products Safely

When selecting teeth whitening products to use, you should keep an eye out for a set of factors that will inform you on the validity of the products that you’re using. Some of the things that you might want to look out in order to use your products in the safest way possible include:

ADA seal of approval: Make sure that the products that you’re using have the ADA seal of approval. This is especially true for products that you purchase from over-the-counter.
Consulting with your dentist: make sure that you consult with your dentist about the health of your teeth in regards to undergoing a teeth-whitening treatment. It’s imperative that your teeth are confirmed to be healthy by your dentist prior to engaging in any kind of teeth whitening process. In general, staining that occurs from superficial external causes (coffee, smoking, etc.) responds better to teeth whitening than staining that comes from internal issues in the teeth.
Listening to your teeth: If your teeth are too sensitive to the teeth whitening process, then you might want to space out the treatments you receive for the sake of your own comfort.
Follow instructions: Following your dentist’s instructions can ensure that you proceed through your teeth whitening treatment in the most seamless and easiest way possible.

Practicing Good Oral Hygiene

Maintaining good oral health can significantly increase the longevity and sustainability of your teeth. This includes basic sense procedures like cleaning your teeth twice a day, using floss and mouthwash, and mouthwash.

Regular visits to your dentist can facilitate this process and strengthen any everyday routines you may already be following.

You can improve the appearance of your veneers by using whitening toothpaste. Like natural teeth, veneers are quite prone to discoloration over time. For your specific circumstance, your dentist ought to be able to suggest an excellent whitening toothpaste.\

If you practice a high level of oral hygiene consistently, you can ensure the health of your teeth for longer and possibly circumvent the need for teeth whitening in general. At the very least, you can ensure that your procedure goes as smoothly as possible.

The Teeth Whitening Experts of Pasadena

Allen and Washington Dental pride themselves on providing the residents of Southern California the absolute best in teeth whitening in Pasadena. If you’re interested in discussing whether or not this type of procedure would work well for you, then contact our office today in order to schedule a consultation.