Teeth whitening lightens teeth that have become yellow, dark or dull. Everyday food and drink such as tea, coffee and red wine, and smoking, leave stains that settle on and into the tooth surface and are not removed by brushing or by scaling. A whitening agent is used to break down these stains and lighten the underlying shade.
When teeth whitening helps
Whitening addresses discoloration of natural teeth. It does not change the color of crowns, veneers or fillings, which keep their original shade, so existing restorations at the front of the mouth are taken into account when a case is planned. Decay and gum inflammation are treated first, and stains that sit on the surface are removed by cleaning before any whitening begins, since part of the discoloration often lifts at that stage.
How teeth whitening works
The whitening agent releases oxygen that passes through the enamel and breaks down the pigments held within the tooth. Whitening can be carried out at the clinic, where a stronger agent is applied under supervision with the gums protected, or at home with custom trays made from impressions of the teeth and a gentler agent used over a longer period. The two are sometimes combined. Results vary from person to person, depending on the original shade and on what is causing the discoloration.
Aftercare
Teeth can feel more sensitive to cold for a short period after whitening, and this usually settles. Because the shade responds to what the teeth are exposed to, staining food and drink and smoking will gradually darken them again. Regular cleaning and professional scaling help hold the result, and any repeat whitening is planned with the dentist rather than repeated at will.
Whitening is not suitable for everyone. It is not carried out during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and teeth that are sensitive, worn or affected by untreated decay are dealt with first. Discoloration that comes from inside a tooth, for example after root canal treatment or an injury, does not respond in the same way as surface staining and is assessed separately.
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