6 Myths and Realities About Beautiful Teeth

Many people are concerned with obtaining a beautiful smile. However, people have many misconceptions that have led to several myths regarding teeth whitening. Below, you will learn about six common myths and the reality of each.

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1. Professional Whitening is More Effective Than Over-The-Counter Products

Reality:

Both treatments work well. The advantage of having your teeth whitened professionally is that the process would be performed by a qualified person and that the whitening process is much faster-usually lasting under an hour as opposed to several weeks of doing it yourself.

2. Professional Whitening is Painful

Reality:

Your teeth and gums can be sensitive to hydrogen peroxide. A professional teeth whitening procedure typically increases tooth sensitivity for about 24 hours, however, using white stripes or other over-the-counter products could leave your teeth sensitive for 30 days.

3. You Can Get a Whiter than White, Movie Star Smile

Reality:

Whether you get your teeth professionally bleached or use products, your teeth are never going to seem as bright as stars on TV. This is because our teeth aren’t naturally white- they are either a shade yellow, brown or gray. The yellow in our teeth becomes more apparent as we age because our enamel thins and our dentin, which is yellow, thickens.

4. Whitening Fades Very Fast

Reality:

Your new beautiful smile should last for at least 18 months. This depends on how well you maintain your teeth after the procedure. Using over-the-counter whitening strips afterwards could prolong your results for some time.

5. Only A Dentist Can Whiten Your Teeth

Reality:

Nowadays, you can get your teeth professionally whitened outside of a dentist’s office at such places like a kiosk inside of a mall. These are technicians who carry out the process, not dentists. A great advantage of these kiosks is that they are less expensive than a dental office while achieving similar results.

6. Teeth Whitening Works For Everyone

Reality:

If your teeth have been capped or crowned, then a whitening procedure will not be effective for you since synthetic materials cannot be whitened. It is also recommended that pregnant and nursing women refrain from getting their teeth whitened. According to Edward A. Scherder of BayView Dental, some patients aren’t satisfied with just whiter teeth. Often to achieve desired results, patients need to have work done to align crooked teeth, fix chips, and cracks. The form of the teeth compliments the white sparkle, similar to how the cut of a diamond compliments the brilliant color.

Those are six very common myths about teeth whitening and beautiful teeth. The best advice for obtaining a beautiful smile is to thoroughly brush and floss at least twice per day and regularly get your teeth professionally cleaned and whitened.