Can You Whiten Your Teeth by Brushing Alone? - Dentist in San Antonio, TX | Terrell Hills Dental (2024)

The perception that your teeth are naturally white isn’t accurate. Your teeth might not appear white and bright as you desire, even after brushing and flossing as recommended by your dentist. There are some reasons why your teeth might appear yellow or discolored, raising concerns in your mind about whether something is wrong with your teeth.

If you discuss the problem with your dentist, they will provide information that teeth are not naturally white. In reality, they are off-white and will appear in a colored shade than appearing brilliant white. Your teeth can also develop stains from foods like berries, coffee, tea, red wine, sodas, et cetera. Staining also results from prescription medications, fluoride, and aging.

Brushing your teeth diligently helps remove harmful plaque and bacteria from your teeth but isn’t effective whiten them. Brushing twice daily is crucial because it helps prevent tooth decay and cavities. Therefore brushing is not designed to whiten teeth, and even using whitening toothpaste will not deliver the desired results.

If you have plenty of acidic foods or are affected by acid reflux, you might be a victim of enamel erosion from the acids in your mouth. Enamel erosion makes visible the dentin having a yellowish appearance. The appearance of the dentin makes it a requirement for you to seekprofessional teeth whiteningif you want to change their appearance.

What Is the Process for Teeth Whitening?

You have different products to brighten teeth, and the process for the whitening differs between products. For example, you can consider over-the-counter teeth whitening remedies in drugstores and supermarkets. While the products are safe to use, their benefits are limited. Whitening toothpaste, strips, deodorants, and mouthwash merely remove surface stains without affecting the dentin. In addition, over-the-counter remedies rarely offer any results and only guarantee disappointment when you purchase the brands to satisfy your desire to have whiter teeth.

Overusing over-the-counter remedies can also damage tooth enamel if you do not follow the product’s instructions.

If you want to whiten teeth safely and effectively and achieve results instantly, you benefit by seeking treatment from a dentist providing in-office teeth whitening.

How Long Does It Take for Yellow Teeth to Appear White Again?

Dentists offering in-office teeth whitening are fully aware of dental anatomy and know how discoloration affects your teeth soon after examining them. In addition, dentists can recognize that you are affected by enamel erosion, which makes the dentin visible and causes your teeth to appear yellow. The professional will evaluate your teeth to determine whether they are free from infections like tooth decay orgum diseasebefore confirming your eligibility for teeth whitening to change the color of your yellow teeth to white teeth.

If you accept the teeth whitening dentists’ proposal, they explain how they will whiten your teeth in the dentist’s office in approximately 90 minutes by using concentrated hydrogen peroxide ingredients to bleach them instead of whitening them. Whitening teeth merely removes surface stains leaving intrinsic stains from infections, injuries, and enamel erosion intact. However, bleaching helps remove all stains on your teeth and within them in a comfortable process that lasts just over an hour to make your teeth appear brighter than earlier.

The teeth whitening procedure isn’t complicated or painful. Instead, it is straightforward and merely requires you to sit still in the dentist’s chair while the professional works on your teeth to improve their appearance.

After cleaning your teeth to remove plaque and tartar deposits, the dentist notes the existing shade of your teeth for reference later. The professional places protective equipment in your mouth to prevent sensitivity to your cheeks and gums from the bleaching ingredients. After the soft tissues are protected, they apply the bleaching ingredient over your teeth four times during the hour. The bleaching agent is reapplied every 15 minutes after washing off the existing application. Heat and light accompany the treatment to accelerate the therapy.

At the end of one hour, the dentist requests you rinse your mouth and receive a fluoride treatment to prevent sensitivity and battle cavities for several months. In addition, they note that the color of your teeth has improved by approximately eight shades during the 90-minute appointment to make your teeth appear whiter and brighter.

As you leave the dentist’s office, you receive suggestions to refrain from having pigmented foods and beverages besides acidic foods that can cause enamel erosion. Adhering to the dentist’s instructions helps retain the shade of your brighter teeth from six months to three years before needing repeated treatments.

Dental professionals better treat yellow teeth with knowledge about dental anatomy. If your teeth appear yellow and make you search for a remedy, theTerrell Hills Dentistcan help you accomplish your goal of having brighter teeth. Arranging a meeting with this dentist today can help you show off a beautiful smile later in the evening.

Can You Whiten Your Teeth by Brushing Alone? - Dentist in San Antonio, TX | Terrell Hills Dental (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rueben Jacobs

Last Updated:

Views: 6576

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (57 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rueben Jacobs

Birthday: 1999-03-14

Address: 951 Caterina Walk, Schambergerside, CA 67667-0896

Phone: +6881806848632

Job: Internal Education Planner

Hobby: Candle making, Cabaret, Poi, Gambling, Rock climbing, Wood carving, Computer programming

Introduction: My name is Rueben Jacobs, I am a cooperative, beautiful, kind, comfortable, glamorous, open, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.