Teeth whitening is a popular way to brighten smiles and rid teeth of unwanted stains, and it can be done either at home or by a dentist near you. It is not uncommon for teeth to appear uneven after teeth whitening in Winnipeg. In this article, our team at Garden City Dental Centre discusses the steps that you need to take if you notice a large difference in color across your smile after whitening your teeth.
What Causes Uneven Color After Teeth Whitening?
Here are a couple of reasons why your teeth may appear patchy after undergoing teeth whitening near you:
- A lot of the time, the edges of your teeth respond more quickly to bleaching than the inner areas since the bleach can penetrate the enamel more rapidly. The center of your tooth has more enamel than the outside, so it takes longer to show results.
- Some teeth may appear to be whiter than others because each tooth responds differently to bleaching. The composition and structure of teeth affect how they react to bleaching. For example, teeth that have less calcium will whiten much faster.
In the majority of cases, the color of your teeth will even out over time. This can take anywhere from three to ten days.
How to Prevent Uneven and Patchy Results
While some patchiness cannot be helped, there are some things you can do to maintain the brightness of your smile:
After you get your teeth whitened at a dental clinic in Winnipeg, you should take some extra precautions to prevent staining. Bleaching makes your enamel more porous, so you should avoid dark substances such as red wine and coffee for the first couple of days after your treatment. If you do end up drinking or eating anything that could stain your teeth, try to avoid letting it come into contact with the surface of your teeth. For example, you could drink iced coffee with a straw and rinse your mouth afterward.
If you choose to whiten your teeth at home, then opt for professional whitening trays provided by a dentist. These trays are custom-made for your smile and can ensure that you end up with smooth results. If you opt for an over-the-counter option, such as whitening gels or strips, they will not be able to cover the entirety of your tooth and can lead to patchy results.
Ensure that you follow your dentist’s instructions before, during, and after your teeth whitening procedure. Remember that teeth whitening is not a permanent solution for brighter teeth because lifestyle choices and diet can cause your teeth to stain again. If you want to maintain a bright, white smile permanently, then you will need to maintain your teeth with touch-up appointments every six months.
Interested in Teeth Whitening Near You?
If you would like to find out more about teeth whitening and determine if you are a good candidate for this cosmetic procedure, please contact our team of dental professionals at Garden City Dental Center. We are happy to provide you with professional teeth whitening to help you show off a radiant smile and answer any questions or concerns you may have concerning the treatment. Please contact us to book your appointment today!
FAQs
Post-Whitening Dehydration
Why are my teeth patchy after whitening? ›
First of all, don't worry! The white, patchy, streaky, or lined look of teeth after whitening is normal – it's called enamel demineralization.
Why do my teeth look uneven after whitening? ›
Sometimes, whitening can be a bit of a diva, giving you patchy results. This is usually because the bleach favours the outer edges of your teeth, leaving the inner bits feeling a tad left out.
How long does it take for teeth to rehydrate after whitening? ›
Rehydrating Teeth After Whitening
After your procedure, your teeth will naturally rehydrate themselves in two to seven days. However, there are things you can do to help your teeth during this time. Drink plenty of water – water naturally hydrates every part of your body, including your teeth.
Do teeth go back to normal after whitening? ›
After the treatment, it is natural for teeth' color to regress somewhat over time. This is normal and should be gradual, but it can be accelerated by exposing the teeth to various staining agents, such as coffee, tea, tobacco, red wine, colas, citrus drinks, fruits, etc.
How do you fix patchy white teeth? ›
Treatments
- Enamel microabrasion. Some people may be able to have microabrasion done to treat their white spots. ...
- Teeth whitening or bleaching. Whitening or bleaching teeth can help to reduce the appearance of white spots and other stains. ...
- Dental veneer. ...
- Topical fluoride. ...
- Composite resin.
A lot of the time, the edges of your teeth respond more quickly to bleaching than the inner areas since the bleach can penetrate the enamel more rapidly. The center of your tooth has more enamel than the outside, so it takes longer to show results.
Why do whitening strips make my teeth spotty? ›
Some teeth have irregular fluoride or calcium levels. The areas that contain less fluoride or calcium lighten more quickly during home whitening, which then looks like stains on the first few days of treatment. However, this returns to normal, usually within 60 to 90 minutes after application.
How long does it take for teeth to settle after whitening? ›
As the demand for having whiter brighter smiles continues to grow, so will the use of whitening products. You should expect mild tooth sensitivity and gum irritation with most whitening products. But, this will typically resolve within a few days after the end of your whitening treatment.
Can teeth whitening go wrong? ›
What are the risks of teeth whitening? No matter what treatment you use, there's a chance your gums will be sensitive to the chemicals used in teeth whitening, particularly if you already have sensitive teeth. There's also a chance of burns to gums and some of the whitening kits used at home can harm tooth enamel.
In order to lift the stains, professional tooth whitening will slightly open the natural pores of your teeth, and it will take some time for these pores to shrink again. Because of this, teeth will be slightly more sensitive and susceptible to staining anywhere between 48 hours to 1 week after treatment.
How do you restore enamel after whitening teeth? ›
Your dentist may recommend a post-whitening fluoride treatment, especially if you have sensitive teeth. Fluoride works to restore minerals onto the tooth's surfaces after dental procedures like tooth whitening. This treatment helps with preventing future re-staining and long-term tooth sensitivity.
What do dehydrated teeth look like? ›
The chroma of a tooth is primarily determined by the dentin layer. Through light scattering that can be determined by refractive indexes, the enamel layer alters the appearance of the chromatic dentin layer [20]. When dehydrated, the teeth appear whiter because dehydration increases the opacity of the enamel.
Why has my teeth whitening gone patchy? ›
If your teeth whitening has gone patchy, the reason might be dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis is a condition that arises from excessive fluoride exposure during tooth development. Fluoride is naturally found in various sources, including water, toothpaste, and specific dental treatments.
Why do my teeth look grey after whitening? ›
Why Did Your Tooth Turn Gray After Whitening It? There are several things to consider: It may be that your tooth was damaged before you applied the whitening gel to it, and it became irritated afterward. The problem might stem from the whitening gel.
Are some teeth still yellow after whitening? ›
Teeth can become temporarily dehydrated after using whitening strips. Your teeth may appear more yellow as a result of this dehydration because the enamel may become dry and lack moisture. Dehydrated enamel sometimes has a transparent appearance that makes the naturally yellowish dentin underneath visible.
Why is my teeth whitening not working between my teeth? ›
If teeth whitening does not work for you, it might be because of the product you are using, the type of tooth stains or spots, or strength of the bleaching gel. Product type – Whitening toothpaste does not remove deeply embedded stains.
Why do my teeth look clear after whitening? ›
Therefore, if the enamel wears away, this makes the edges are translucent. Few people believe that when you put teeth whitening strips or trays in your mouth for a long time than required, it can lead to the erosion of your tooth enamel, and hence, your teeth appear translucent.
