Tooth Bleaching

Tooth bleaching has become more common in recent years, mainly because it is now safe and inexpensive. Unlike whitening toothpaste that removes stains to reveal the underlying whiteness of teeth, bleaching actually makes teeth whiter; but even at their whitest, they will not be as white as a sheet of white paper, and this often times disappoints people. {{more}}

Your tooth colour dictates how well bleaching will whiten your teeth:

* Yellowish teeth bleach well.

* Brownish teeth may bleach not as well.

* Greyish teeth may not bleach well at all.

Bleaching does not work on:

* Crowns and bridges

* Tooth coloured fillings

After bleaching, the teeth whiten and these fillings stay the same colour, consequently, these fillings will need to be replaced.

There are three major bleaching methods:

1. Over the counter home bleaching kits.

2. Dentist supervised, take-home bleaching kits.

3. Dentist in office bleaching procedures.

It is important to know that not all bleaching methods are created equal and they all provide varied results.

It is advisable to get a dental professional to examine you and let you know if bleaching would work for you. It is strongly recommended that your fillings and dental prophylaxis be done prior to bleaching.

Bleaching is not recommended for persons with sensitive teeth or gum disease for this may cause extreme pain in some cases.