For some people their teeth are a shade darker than they want or they have a tooth darker than the others adjacent to it, i.e. following root canal treatment. This can be a real confident smile issue.
We can change this by bleaching - or whitening the teeth. This is a simple, basically non-invasive procedure that will not harm the teeth.
What is Teeth Bleaching?
Tooth bleaching or whitening can be a very effective way of lightening the natural colour of your teeth without damaging or removing any of the tooth surface. While these techniques cannot make a complete colour change, they can help to lighten the existing shade.
What Does Tooth Bleaching Involve?
Professional bleaching is the most usual method of tooth whitening. Come and visit us to discuss your needs and we can help you to decide if this treatment will be beneficial for you.
- If you have a root-filled tooth that's darker than the other adjacent teeth, Dr Mike can treat this for you over a couple of visits.
- If all or most of your teeth are generally darker, then Melanie our Oral Health Therapist can treat this with you either by making trays for you to progressively ‘whiten’ your teeth over several days at home OR in one visit in the dental chair.
- As the process can have some sensitivity we advise that our patients treat the teeth with desensitiser cream in the lead-up to their bleaching procedure.
How Long Do Teeth Stay Whiter?
The effects of whitening can last several years. However, this will vary from person to person as it largely can be impacted by lifestyle, what you eat and drink and whether you smoke.
You can help maintain the results by brushing, flossing, and rinsing daily. Also, avoid acidic and tannin-rich foods and beverages that may cause the bleaching to fade faster;
- Black teas and coffee
- White and red wine
- Sports drinks
- Carbonated beverages (dark and light-colored sodas)
- Berries and other strongly-colored foods
- Sauces (soy, tomato, curries)