What causes some people’s teeth to whiten well and others not so much?
Professional teeth whitening is one of the most effective procedures to whiten or brighten discolored teeth other than porcelain veneers. The procedure removes years of accumulated stains from smoking, drinking wine, coffee, tea, eating chocolates, etc. However, the teeth whitening process works better for some than others. Below we highlight some of the factors that influence the overall success of teeth whitening.
- The beginning color of the enamel.
Grayish and brownish teeth do not whiten as well as yellowish teeth.
The teeth whitening procedure bleaches your teeth to remove discoloration and stains from your enamel. It does not make your teeth a new color but restores them to their original color. As such, the original color of your teeth is one of the most crucial factors in determining the procedure’s effectiveness. The teeth whitening procedure works best for people with yellowish teeth, a sign of surface discoloration from food/beverage stains. Your teeth will not brighten significantly if you have grayish teeth due to antibiotics or brownish teeth due to overexposure to fluoride. People with brownish and grayish teeth may want to consider porcelain veneers to achieve their smile goals.
- Teeth whitening is not effective on teeth with plaque and bacterial deposits.
The efficacy of teeth whitening also depends on whether you have cavities or plaque buildup. If your teeth have significant bacterial and plaque deposits during the whitening process, the results will not be as effective and bright as people with perfectly healthy teeth. This is why we recommend having your teeth professionally cleaned before the teeth whitening. If your dentist identifies any potential problems, such as cavities, you should have them filled before whitening.
- The surface quality of your teeth influences the results.
The teeth whitening procedure works on natural enamel rather than artificial teeth replacements, such as dental crowns and veneers. Any previous dentistry will not whiten. Only enamel changes color, and thicker enamel has a better chance of whitening.
- Your lifestyle habits determine the treatment’s longevity.
Even after teeth whitening, some people maintain their results longer than others. The overall longevity of your teeth whitening results depends on your lifestyle habits. If you smoke, drink, or consume tea, wine, chocolates, etc., your results may last for less time.
Even if you are not a good candidate for whitening, there are still options to achieve a bright white smile. Sometimes whitening is combined with other approaches to achieve your smile goals. At Atlanta Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, we work with you to design the smile you are looking for by providing a customized treatment plan to meet your goals.
