Teeth whitening in Arlington

When the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) asked people what they would most like to improve about their smile, the most common response was whiter teeth. The American Association of Orthodontics also found that 90% of their patients requested tooth whitening. 

Why have my teeth changed color?

Over time, multiple factors can contribute to tooth darkening:

Age: The white outer layer of your teeth that you typically see is the enamel. Underneath enamel is a softer, yellow substructure called dentin. Over time, the white outer enamel can be lost due to a number of factors (brushing your teeth, acid in food/drink or acid reflux). As you lose the outer enamel, more of the yellow substructure starts to be seen.

Food and drink: Coffee, tea and red wine are major staining culprits by allowing intense color components (chromagens) to attach to the white part of your tooth (enamel). As noted above, acidic foods and beverages can also erode away the outer enamel layer, allowing more of the yellow substructure to be seen.

Tobacco: Tar and nicotine, two chemical components of tobacco, create stubborn yellow stains on teeth. 

Trauma: If you traumatically damage a tooth, your tooth responds by laying down more of the underlying yellow substructure (dentin) to protect itself. This causes the tooth to appear darker.

Medications: Certain medications like antihistamines, antipsychotics and high blood pressure medications may cause tooth darkening. Young children who are exposed to antibiotics like doxycycline or tetracycline when their teeth are developing (either in utero or as a baby), may have discoloration of their teeth later in life. Chemotherapy or head and neck radiation may also cause tooth darkening.

How does teeth whitening work?

Whitening products diffuse through tooth structures, creating a chemical reaction that changes the color of the teeth as the tooth bleach interacts with colored compounds along the way.

Does tooth whitening work the same on all teeth?

Unfortunately some teeth whiten more easily than others, and some not at all. Patients with yellow teeth may find their teeth bleach more easily, those with brown teeth may not respond as well and those with gray teeth may not whiten at all. Whitening will not work on crowns, veneers, bridges, implant crowns or fillings. Those with medication or trauma induced discoloration will not see effective results with whitening.

What are my bleaching options?

Over-the-counter bleaching options like toothpaste or whitening strips contain a low level of bleaching solution, useful when a very minimal shade change is desired. 

Professional bleaching strips (carried at a dental office) have a higher concentration of bleaching material and can be more effective in their result.

Professional custom bleaching trays are the most effective form of bleaching found by our dentists. Although a larger initial investment, custom bleaching trays can be used repeatedly and indefinitely as long as no major changes occur to your teeth. A small amount of higher concentration bleaching solution is applied to the custom tray and allowed to sit against the teeth for 30-60 minutes. Application may range from a few days to a few weeks, depending on your starting tooth discoloration and desired outcome. 

Are there any side effects to tooth whitening?

Tooth sensitivity is a common occurrence while whitening your teeth as the solution moves throughout the tooth structures and causes a minor irritation to the nerve. The sensitivity is temporary and should resolve when bleaching is complete. Use of sensitive toothpaste, fluoridated toothpaste or fluoride treatment may decrease sensitivity experienced during whitening. Bleaching every other day may also help diminish sensitivity.

Gingival irritation may also be a side effect of tooth whitening if the bleaching solution is allowed to sit on the soft tissue, causing a chemical burn. Using custom bleaching trays that are shaped around the soft tissue and allow excess material to be wiped away is a great way to avoid this type of irritation. Bleaching strips do not allow this flexibility.

Should I brush my teeth after whitening?

It is our recommendation to rinse then spit out water to remove excess bleach materials. Because bleaching solution temporarily softens enamel, use of a toothbrush may actually erode away this precious tooth structure. Instead, wait 30 minutes to allow your saliva and the fluoride within to reharden the enamel, then you may brush.