It’s safe to say that virtually all of us would like to have an attractive smile. And one of the simplest, least expensive ways of getting a brighter smile is by having your teeth whitened. Although there are several over-the-counter products available, nothing works as well as professional teeth whitening performed by your dentist. Whitening is a great choice for most adults who enjoy good oral health.
Although there’s no doubt that whitening can make a real difference in the appearance of your smile, teeth whitening is not the best choice for everyone. If you have any of the following conditions, you should think twice before having your teeth whitened.
- Cavities: If you have tooth decay, you should have that issue addressed with either fillings or crowns prior to having your teeth whitened. The whitening agent can increase any amount of discomfort you might be feeling due to the tooth decay.
- Sensitive teeth: People with naturally sensitive teeth may want to avoid whitening, or at least discuss the options with their dentist before deciding whether or not to go ahead with the procedure. Whitening products increase tooth sensitivity, and although this is usually temporary, people with sensitive teeth may find the whitening process very uncomfortable.
- An abundance of dental work, particularly in the front of the mouth: Remember that whitening products don’t work on dental restorations like fillings, crowns, partials, bridges, etc. If you have a lot of dental restorations – particularly in the front of your mouth – you may want to think twice before whitening your teeth. While the whitening product will work on your natural tooth enamel, the material used in your dental restoration may have been matched to an earlier tooth shade, which means you could end up with two different shades of teeth. This would, of course, be more noticeable in the front of your mouth.
- Compromised enamel: People with eroded enamel will notice that their teeth are naturally a little more yellow than people with healthy enamel. Unfortunately, whitening products won’t work if your enamel is compromised.
- Gum disease: Teeth whitening is not typically recommended for people with gum disease since the whitening agent can make gum tissue even more tender than usual, and can be uncomfortable or painful for the patient.
Fortunately, there are some other options that will help to brighten your smile, even if you have one or more of the conditions listed above. If your enamel is eroded, for example, your dentist might recommend crowns or porcelain veneers to improve the appearance of your smile. Veneers or bonding might also be a good choice for people with sensitive teeth. Talk to your dentist to decide whether or not teeth whitening is right for you, and to discuss some of the other options available to improve the appearance of your smile.
