One thing that a lot of our patients have in common is they believe a lot of different myths about teeth whitening in Walnut Creek. We are here to provide you with the correct facts about teeth whitening so you know the truth. We want what is best for our patients which means giving them all of the correct information about their dental health and potential procedures they are interested in. Continue reading to learn more about the myths about teeth whitening from Pope Dental.
Teeth Whitening Damages Your Enamel
One of the most common myths about teeth whitening in Walnut Creek is that teeth whitening damages your enamel. This myth is half true, half false. It is false if you visit your dentist for professional teeth whitening. We have gone through years of training and only use the best products for whitening your teeth. You don’t have to worry about enamel damage when we whiten your teeth.
This myth is true when it comes to using random teeth whitening products you find online or in the store, some only if they are used incorrectly. To start, if you brush your teeth white charcoal or anything else that has a scrubbing effect, you will definitely damage your enamel. You will also damage your enamel if you use a whitening gel for longer than you are supposed to. There is a reason that boxes put a time limit for how long you should wear the whitening strips or trays. To avoid damaging your enamel, we just recommend that you visit your dentist for best results.
Rubbing Certain Fruits on Your Teeth Can Remove Stains
There is another myth out there that if you rub citrus fruit or strawberries on your teeth that they will remove stains from your teeth. This is not true. While you might enjoy the fruity flavor that the fruit leaves in your mouth, fruit cannot remove stains any better than properly brushing your teeth. We also recommend caution as citrus fruit can eat away at your enamel. While your teeth might appear whiter, you are actually damaging your teeth in the process. Give your teeth a good brushing to see if that helps.
Your Teeth Will Stay White Forever Once They are Whitened
Although we wish teeth whitening worked this way, this is one of the myths about teeth whitening that many of our patients believe. Just like weight loss, if you don’t keep up your good diet and exercise, the weight will pile back on just like teeth staining after a whitening treatment. After a professional teeth whitening treatment, you can expect your results to last for up to a year without needing a touch-up. They can last even longer if you avoid staining foods and drinks and apply regular brushing, flossing and dental exams into your routine. No tooth whitening treatment lasts forever. If you are looking for lower maintenance for your white smile, consider porcelain veneers.
Active Charcoal is Safe for Whitening Teeth
You might have seen the active charcoal toothpaste on Instagram that claims to whiten your smile by lifting stains from your teeth. In reality, when you brush your teeth with charcoal, you are actually scraping away your enamel. If your teeth appear to be whiter, this is because your enamel has been damaged. Once you damage your enamel, it can’t grow back. Skip the trendy products on Instagram and seek professional whitening from your dentist today.
Whitening Your Teeth Will Make Them Look Unnatural
Another common myth about teeth whitening is that it will make your smile look unnatural. This is not true. Teeth whitening only looks unnatural if you want it to look at way. When you visit our dentist in Walnut Creek, we will choose the best shade of white that suits your smile. If you want to go whiter, we will let you know how vibrant and potentially unnatural the results may be. You are in complete control over how white your smile looks. We do our best to advise our patients to opt for a more natural result.
Teeth Whitening Treatment Can Cause Extreme Sensitivity
Teeth whitening shouldn’t be a painful procedure. Oftentimes, the patients who feel pain are ones who used an at-home whitening kit and got some of the whitening solutions on their gums or even on a tooth root if their gums are receding. Following your treatment, your teeth may feel a bit more sensitive than usual, but this should go away in a few days. If you are prone to tooth sensitivity, please let our dentist know so that we can give you the right tooth whitening treatment and take extra precautions afterward to help you feel more comfortable.
Professional Teeth Whitening is the Same As Over the Counter Whitening
One of the most common myths about teeth whitening in Walnut Creek, we are here to put a stop to patients of ours thinking that the over the counter products can provide them with the same results as an in-office whitening treatment. To start, in-office whitening contains a higher concentrate of bleach for faster and more effective results. In addition, our dentist is here to ensure that all of your teeth whiten evenly and to the correct color. A box of whitening treatments is unpredictable. Experience an in-office whitening to see the difference yourself.
Crowns and Veneers Can Be Whitened
When our patients first visit us for a teeth whitening treatment, we take our time to examine their mouths for this exact myth. Crowns and veneers cannot be whitened. Therefore, if you have any in the front of your mouth that match your current tooth color, we are not going to recommend that you receive a whitening treatment because your natural teeth will be a different color than your veneers and crowns. The only way to whiten your entire smile would be to replace your crowns and veneers that are a shade of your desired colored teeth. From there, you would need to whiten your natural teeth to match.
Schedule a Treatment for Teeth Whitening in Walnut Creek Today
If you’re ready to learn more about the myths of teeth whitening in Walnut Creek, schedule an appointment with our cosmetic dentist to learn more and to get professional teeth whitening treatment for yourself. We can be contacted via our contact form or phone.
