Whitening vs. Bleaching

According to the FDA, the term "bleaching" is permitted to be used only when the teeth can be whitened beyond their natural colour. This applies strictly to products that contain bleach – typically hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.

The term "whitening," on the other hand, refers to restoring a tooth's surface colour by removing dirt and debris. So any product that cleans (like toothpaste) is technically considered a whitener.

What Causes Tooth Staining?

Age:
There is a direct correlation between tooth colour and age. Over the years, teeth darken as a result of wear and tear and stain accumulation. Teenagers will likely experience immediate, dramatic results from whitening. In the twenties, as the teeth begin to show a yellow cast, teeth-whitening may require a little more effort. By the forties, the yellow gives way to brown and more maintenance may be called for. By the fifties, the teeth have absorbed a host of stubborn stains which can prove difficult (but not impossible) to remove.

Starting Colour:
We are all equipped with an inborn tooth colour that ranges from yellow-brownish to greenish-grey, and intensifies over time. Yellow-brown is generally more responsive to whitening than green-grey.

Translucency and Thinness:
These are also genetic traits that become more pronounced with age. While all teeth show some translucency, those that are opaque and thick have an advantage: they appear lighter in colour, show more sparkle and are generally more responsive to whitening. Teeth that are thinner and more transparent – most notably the front teeth – have less of the pigment that is necessary for whitening. According to cosmetic dentists, transparency is the only condition that cannot be corrected by any form of teeth whitening.

Eating habits:
The habitual consumption of red wine, coffee, tea, cola, carrots, oranges and other deeply coloured beverages and foods causes considerable staining over the years. In addition, acidic foods such as citrus fruits and vinegar contribute to enamel erosion. As a result, the surface becomes more transparent and more of the yellow-coloured dentin shows through.

Smoking Habits:
Nicotine leaves brownish deposits which slowly soak into the tooth structure and cause intrinsic discolouration.

Drugs / Chemicals:
Tetracycline usage during tooth formation produces dark grey or brown ribbon stains which are very difficult to remove. Excessive consumption of fluoride causes fluorosis and associated areas of white mottling. Fluorosis will often be enhanced directly after teeth whitening, however, this will return to it’s previous state within 1-12 hours.

Grinding:
Most frequently caused by stress, teeth grinding and gnashing can add to micro-cracking in the teeth and can cause the biting edges to darken.

Trauma:
Falls and other injuries can produce sizeable cracks in the teeth, which collect large amounts of staining and debris.

Whitening Risks

Sensitivity:
Although rare with our gentle gel, teeth whitening can cause a temporary increase in sensitivity to temperature, pressure and touch. In extreme cases some individuals may experience spontaneous shooting pains. Individuals at greatest risk for whitening sensitivity are those with gum recession, significant cracks in their teeth or leakage resulting from faulty restorations. If this occurs you will be advised to discontinue treatment and make an appointment with your dentist.
Whitening sensitivity usually lasts no longer than a day or two, but in some cases may persist a little longer. We recommend toothpaste for sensitive teeth to reduce sensitivity.

Gum Irritation:
Clients can occasionally experience some degree of gum irritation usually from applying the gel onto the gum tissue. Such irritation typically lasts form a few minutes after treatment up to several days. The use of the vitamin E swab is very successful in eliminating gum sensitivity.

Technicolour Teeth:
Restorations such as bonding, dental crowns or porcelain veneers are not affected by treatment and therefore maintain their default colour while the surrounding teeth are whitened. This results in what is frequently called "technicolour teeth". If the default colour of these restorations is lighter than the natural teeth, the whitening treatment can still be used.
We will check your teeth after the first 20 minute session in these cases, as it may be all that is required to match the restorations.

Post-Treatment Care

DO NOT consume tea, coffee, red wine, curry or anything that would stain a white shirt for 12 hours if possible, as your teeth are more susceptible to re-staining during this period.

If you must consume dark liquids do so through a straw.