Is Teeth Whitening Safe For My Smile?

You want your teeth to be brighter than they are now but you’re not sure the best way to go about getting there. Should you choose the professional route or try over-the-counter whitening products? Is teeth whitening even safe at all? Fortunately, it is with the help of our Hudsonville cosmetic dentists.

Here’s what you need to know about our in-office and at-home teeth whitening options along with what you shouldn’t do to whiten your smile.

Reasons for Tooth Discoloration

Oftentimes, the hidden cause behind yellowed or discolored teeth is not so hidden after all. For example, if you’re like many adults around the world, you drink coffee in the mornings. Unfortunately, coffee can easily stain your teeth when consumed on a regular basis.

Avid tea drinkers also fall into this camp thanks to its intense color pigments that cling to your enamel. The pigments are known as chromogens and are contained in other beverages like red wine as well.

The darker color of your teeth can also be caused by:

• Smoking or other tobacco use
• Natural aging
• Oral trauma or injury
• Certain medications
• Excessive fluoride exposure (fluorosis)
• Poor dental hygiene

If you identify with one of the reasons listed above, our cosmetic dentists can help by either performing our in-office teeth whitening procedure or giving you custom whitening trays and gel to take home. We can also discuss the possibility of porcelain veneers if your specific tooth discoloration is severe.

Please remember that if you want your results to last after treatment, the cessation of tobacco use, regular dental cleanings, and daily oral hygiene are all encouraged.

How NOT to Whiten Your Teeth

We’ve all heard of the pure and natural teeth whitening methods that are designed to lighten up your smile in no time. Some solutions are more far-fetched than others and very few have been shown to have a positive effect on the color of your teeth.

Natural teeth whitening methods to be wary of include:

• Rubbing acidic fruits or fruit peels (lemons, oranges, etc.) on your teeth to remove dark stains
• Practicing oil pulling and swishing coconut oil around in your mouth to lift yellow stains
• Brushing your teeth with a mixture of baking soda and water
• Using any oral care product involving charcoal as a main ingredient

Whereas professional teeth whitening from our dentists is safe for your enamel, natural remedies can often cause damage to that part of your tooth. For instance, if acidic fruits or fruit peels are used deliberately, the enamel will soften and can wear away.

Our cosmetic dentists instead use safe, but powerful whitening gel to brighten your smile. The gel is also dental-grade and has been proven to efficiently whiten teeth that are discolored.

Make an Appointment Today

If you want to enhance the look of your teeth, our cosmetic dentists in Hudsonville, MI, are here to help! Simply give Hudsonville Dental a call today at (616) 209-4024 to schedule an appointment and we can get started with either in-office or at-home teeth whitening.