Besides improving your appearance, a whiter smile can really boost your confidence and self-esteem. Teeth whitening in Houston, TX, is considered to be an effective way of brightening the shade of your teeth without interfering with the tooth’s enamel. Very few people get to enjoy having brilliant-white teeth. Our lifestyle habits and the foods we eat overtime stain the surface of the teeth, leading to discoloration. Some illnesses can also discolor our teeth, with the severity of staining varying from person to person.
If your teeth have discolored to the point that it bothers you, you might have considered teeth whitening treatments. Depending on the information you’ve heard about it, you could be all for it, confused about it or totally against it. To help you get a better understanding of the procedure, we debunk common myths about teeth h whitening you might have heard about.
Teeth Whitening Myths
- Teeth Whitening Treatments Last Forever
The color change as a result of whitening is permanent. However, aging is a continuous process and you still continue to be exposed to factors contributing discoloration, thus touch-ups are necessary to keep your smile bright.
- Over-The-Counter Treatments Are the Same as Dental Office Treatments
This is unfortunately not true. Dentists in Southwest Houston use products that will penetrate the layers of the teeth and address the underlying cause of staining. Additionally, they have the right skills to administer the treatment and have the luxury to customize it for added benefits. This is unlike store-bough treatments that tend to be general and have a low concentration of the whitening ingredient.
- It Guarantees You the Whitest Smile
Not true. The end results usually vary from patient to patient, depending on the nature of the stain, thickness of the enamel, tooth structure and the patient’s age. You may not always get the whitest smile but you will have teeth that are several shades brighter.
- Teeth Become Weak and Sensitive After Whitening
Like every other dental procedure, there are risks associated with whitening such as sensitivity, gum irritation and even nerve damage. However, if the procedure is properly done, the risk of these side effects is minimized. Consider working with a professional health provider to avoid sensitivity issues. If you choose to use at-home whitening kits, ensure the product meets safety ad quality standards and always follow the instructions given.
- It Is Too Expensive
You don not need to spend a fortune to get a whiter smile. It all depends with the options you choose. Over the counter kits are usually very affordable and even professional treatments come in different varieties to suit different budgets.
- Anyone Can Do It
It would be right to say that everyone wishes to have a snow-white smile but the reality is that not everyone can benefit from teeth whitening treatments. If you have teeth stained gray or blue maybe due to medications or trauma, whitening might not be effective. Brown teeth also don’t completely whiten. Children also do nt qualify for whitening procedures unless under very special conditions.
- Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide Can Whiten Your Teeth
There is no proof at all to suggest that baking soda can actually brighten your teeth. if anything, using baking soda compromises your oral health as it interferes with the ratio of good bacteria to bad in the mouth.
Hydrogen peroxide on the other hand is the active ingredient in most teeth whitening products which is why some people might consider using it as a whitening agent. However, you need to know that it is usually used in varying concentrations. Products with higher concentration need to remain on the teeth for a shorter time to be effective while low-concentration products might need to stay longer to offer any results.
If hydrogen peroxide is used wrongly, you risk damaging your teeth’s enamel and irritating your gums. It is therefore advisable to work with a dentist to ensure you get the right concentration of peroxide to match your needs.
- Crowns and Veneers Can Be Whitened Too
You will not be able to undergo teeth whitening in Houston, for your veneers or porcelain. These dental appliances are usually made from porcelain which does not respond to whitening agents. So, incase they are stained the only option is to replace them with new ones.