In the digital age, our smile is seen everywhere—from Facebook to Instagram, we want our grin to be at its best. Teeth whitening provides a safe, cost-effective solution for a brighter smile. But can teeth whitening damage your teeth? Let’s take a look.

What Causes Teeth to Turn Yellow?

Before we look into the details of teeth whitening, let’s first examine the causes of teeth discoloration. The yellow color takes place in the inner part of your tooth known as dentin, not the enamel as many people presume. This happens as you grow older, but can also be caused by genetics, overexposure to fluoride, silver fillings, and more.

How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

There are two types of teeth whitening: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic whitening refers to whitening your dentin (the inner part of your tooth) while extrinsic whitening removes enamel stains. Extrinsic stains can be removed by whitening toothpaste and with a polish or teeth cleaning from your dental hygienist.

Keep in mind that teeth whitening is not permanent. Most teeth whitening lasts anywhere from 6 months to 2 years, depending on your diet and lifestyle.

Is Teeth Whitening Safe?

The answer is yes, if done correctly. Over-the-counter remedies like Crest Whitestrips can cause damage to your enamel if left on too long, and expose your gums to harmful chemicals.

Tooth sensitivity is common following the teeth whitening process (up to 24 hours after), but a little ibuprofen can easily remedy this side effect.

In the end, it’s best to speak to a dentist about teeth whitening. If you’d like to learn more about the simple procedure, give us a call and we’ll be happy to set up an appointment for you over the phone.