Four Dental Issues And Their Impact On Teeth Whitening Plans
Posted on: 20 September 2019
Summer is just around the corner in Australia and that means it is time to head out of the house for socialisation with family and friends. As someone who is considering getting their teeth whitened in time for the holiday season and the myriad of photos this season brings, you must be realistic about what teeth whitening can and cannot do. Here are four common dental issues which you need to consider when determining how much teeth whitening will affect your mouth.
Colouring Veneers And Crowns
If you have previously had veneers or crowns fitted to your teeth, then these are not affected by the tooth whitening process. The same goes for any tooth-coloured fillings you have in your mouth. The reason for this is that the materials used to make veneers, crowns and fillings are not altered when they come into contact with the peroxide used to whiten teeth. If you have these types of dental add-ons in your mouth, then you must discuss how to change the colour of them with your dentist.
Tooth Sensitivity
Some dental patients experience increased dental sensitivity for up to a week after the tooth whitening process. If you already suffer from tooth sensitivity, then you need to discuss with your dentist how to minimise any discomfit you may experience during the whitening process. Your dentist may decide to use a lighter strength of peroxide on your teeth but treat them more than once to get the effect you desire.
Thin Enamel
The enamel is the hard coating on your teeth, and plaque eats away at the enamel when it is not removed regularly through brushing and dental cleanings. Whether you can whiten teeth with thin enamel or not depends on a recommendation made by your dentist after they examine your teeth. If the enamel is too thin, then the whitening chemicals cannot be used as they may permanently damage the nerve endings or roots of your teeth protected by the enamel. However, if tooth whitening is not an option for teeth with thin enamel, then other alternatives such as veneers are available.
Receding Gums
Receding gums may be caused by periodontal disease, and this condition causes the gums to pull back from your teeth. This exposes the roots which must never come into contact with tooth whitening chemicals. This is another condition where the decision whether to proceed with teeth whitening needs to be made by your dentist after closer examination. They can advise the level of discomfit, if any, you will experience when whitening teeth under these conditions.
Make an appointment with your local dentist to discuss teeth whitening and other dental issues before summer arrives.
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