You’ve always wanted to undergo a teeth whitening procedure, however, your dentist tells you to have teeth bleaching instead. You’re becoming confused why you’re hearing two terms when they seem to have the same effect on your teeth. The truth is, there’s a distinctive gap between whitening and bleaching your teeth. They are both cosmetic dental treatments, however, one is  non-invasive and an affordable way to enhance your teeth’s color. There’s also laser teeth whitening that improves the shade of your teeth up to six times in less than an hour. Understanding both procedures will enlighten you in choosing the right treatment for your dental case.

Understanding teeth whitening and bleaching

The word "bleaching" refers to brightening your teeth that’s beyond their natural colour and shade. This refers to products that contain bleaching solution such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. However, these need laser light in order to activate the bleaching process on the teeth. At Creative Dentistry, you can set a same day appointment for in-office teeth bleaching, or opt for take home-bleaching kits.

Meanwhile, teeth whitening means removing dirt, stains and debris to restore the colour of the teeth's surface. This means that any product that you use to clean your teeth, like toothpaste, is considered a whitener. Surprisingly, there are ingredients found in your kitchen that you can use to naturally whiten your teeth. Examples of these are baking soda, apple cider vinegar, strawberries, apples, celery, and pineapples.  

Suffice to say, in-office, at-home whitening kits and natural ingredients are effective ways to brighten your smile. The duration for you to achieve the desired result is one big factor in choosing or following the right treatment. More importantly, you have to determine what causes teeth stains so you’re confident that you’re doing the right approach to resolve it.

What causes teeth stains?

Age

There is a direct correlation of your tooth colour to your age. Over the years, your teeth will darken as a result of wear and tear, as well as stain accumulation. When a patient decides to have laser teeth whitening during his adolescent stage, the result will be drastic. This is because their permanent teeth have just erupted and there’s no accumulation of stains yet.

Initial tooth colour

Genetically, the shade of your teeth ranges from yellow-brownish to greenish-grey. However, this initial shade intensifies over the years. Yellow-brown are generally more responsive to whitening than a tooth with a green-grey shade.

Thickness and translucency

Your teeth's translucency and thickness becomes more pronounced as you age. While all teeth show some translucency, those that are opaque and thick benefit more with teeth whitening. This is because they appear lighter in colour, show more sparkle and are very responsive to the treatment.

If your teeth are thin and more transparent, this may indicate that it has less of the pigment necessary for bleaching. The transparency of the tooth is more prominent with most patient's front teeth. According to most cosmetic dentists, the transparency of the tooth is the only condition that cannot be corrected with any form of whitening procedure.

Smoking

The habit of smoking is dangerous to your overall health. Aside from its negative effects to your health, cigarettes also contain nicotine which leaves brownish deposits on your teeth. This leads to a deep teeth discolouration.

Knowing these common causes of tooth discolouration will encourage you to avoid habits that may lead to teeth stains. While laser teeth whitening is an optimal solution to brighten your smile instantly, prevention is always a better option. In some cases, severe tooth discolouration may not be reversible. However, there’s no need to despair as other dental treatments such as veneers and dental crowns are available to restore your smile. Visit Creative Dentistry to know more about teeth whitening in London, Ontario.