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The Woodcrest dentists at Riverside Dental Group are going to let you in on a little secret: teeth whitening makes you look younger. Can you think of any other cosmetic procedure which can boast shaving years off of your age without being invasive or requiring a lengthy recovery time? Try your hand at these true-or-false questions about teeth whitening to learn more.

Questions

Q1. True or false – Whitening toothpastes have come a long way and are equally as effective as teeth bleaching.

Q2. True or false – You should not brush your teeth with baking soda, because the powder is far too abrasive for your smile.

Q3. True or false – At-home whitening trays and bleaching gels provided by your dentist are as effective as in-office bleaching.

Answers

A1. FALSE – Generally, you’ll only see slight results with whitening toothpastes. The whitening agents added to toothpastes and other oral hygiene products may clean some surface stains from teeth, offering a temporary shade or two of brightness. Unfortunately, that’s nothing compared to the seven to ten shades of whitening which professional dental bleaching options are likely to offer.

A2. FALSE – Brushing your teeth with a small amount of baking soda mixed with a few drops of water can give your teeth a brightening boost about as significant as a whitening toothpaste. A bit of baking soda (once a week maximum) is perfectly safe. However, you have to be careful not to expose your tooth enamel to sodium bicarbonate too often because it is abrasive and can scratch your tooth enamel.

A3. If you turn to your Woodcrest dentists, we can ensure that you are taking a customized and dental-grade teeth bleaching kit home with you. This means that you can achieve very similar results to in-office whitening. The only difference is the amount of time required. At-home products will require a two week daily commitment from you as opposed to fast laser bleaching in the office, which only requires about an hour.

Teeth Whitening from your Woodcrest Dentists

If you have worn enamel, dental cavities, or gum disease, teeth whitening may not be recommended until those problems are treated. Also, teeth whitening will not work on dental crowns or other dental restorations, so be prepared that your dentist may recommend another option such as veneers or bonding in certain circumstances. Call our 92504 dentist office at (951) 689-5031 for teeth whitening and all of your dental care needs.