Having bright, white teeth is something many people desire but don’t always achieve. While some are blessed with naturally white teeth, most people’s teeth dull over time from drinking coffee, tea, red wine, as well as other staining foods and drinks. Teeth are also yellow with age as the enamel wears down and dentin shows through. This is completely natural but can make teeth appear darker and yellowed.
Fortunately, there are ways to significantly whiten your teeth and restore their natural brilliance. Professional teeth whitening is a simple and effective way to remove stains as well as discoloration from your teeth. Many people undergoing teeth whitening are surprised by the transformative effect it can have, not just on their smile but also on their self-confidence.
In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the key but often overlooked advantages of professional teeth whitening for your dental and overall health.
Key Benefits of Teeth Whitening
-
Brighter, Whiter Smile
The most obvious benefit of professional teeth whitening is that it can dramatically brighten your smile by removing stubborn stains from coffee, red wine, smoking, and other sources. It works by using a specially formulated whitening gel containing ingredients like hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. This gel breaks down and removes both surface stains and deeper intrinsic discoloration within the tooth structure itself.
Most people see the best results after 1-2 professional whitening treatments, which provide maximum whitening while minimizing sensitivity. Results can last 1-3 years with proper dental hygiene and avoidance of staining foods/drinks. Your smile after professional whitening will likely be several shades lighter and visibly whiter.
-
Improved Dental Health
In addition to cosmetic benefits, teeth whitening has important oral health benefits, too. Many stains on teeth also contain bacteria, which can lead to plaque build-up and oral health issues if left untreated. Removing these stains helps clean and sanitize teeth, removing bacteria and leading to better dental hygiene.
Whitening can also make it easier to detect plaque build-up and cavities since your teeth will be clean, and stains won’t hide underlying issues. This allows you and your dentist to spot and treat any potential problems early before they worsen.
-
Reduced Staining
After undergoing professional teeth whitening, your teeth will be more resistant to new stains for quite some time. The whitening process helps seal and smooth the enamel surface, making teeth less permeable and vulnerable to staining. Avoiding heavily staining foods and maintaining good oral hygiene helps preserve your bright new smile.
While teeth will eventually stain again from daily use, the whitening process can buy you 1-3 years of reduced staining compared to your pre-whitened teeth. For many patients, occasional touch-up whitening is enough to maintain a noticeably whiter smile long-term.
-
Confidence and Self-Esteem Boost
One of the biggest advantages of teeth whitening, though not directly health-related, is the increase in confidence and self-esteem it can provide. When you look good, you tend to feel good as well. Having bright white teeth and a radiant smile makes most people feel more attractive, sociable, likable, employable, and confident in their appearance.
This confidence boost has real benefits, allowing you to more comfortably meet people, pursue career opportunities, network, date, and feel better about yourself overall. While the health benefits of whitening are important on their own, for many people, the self-confidence it instills is just as valuable.
-
Whiter Teeth Can Help Mask Other Aesthetic Concerns
Having whiter teeth can help draw attention away from other aesthetic issues in one’s smile. When teeth are brightened, the eye is naturally drawn to the vivid white colour. This can serve to mask cosmetic problems like chips, cracks, gaps, or slight crookedness in other teeth. The uniformity and brightness of the white colour help make these other flaws less noticeable. Even minor discoloration or yellowing can make tooth imperfections stand out more. Therefore, teeth whitening treatments can be a simple solution to downplay these shortcomings.
-
Affordable and Accessible Treatment
While not long ago, whitening was an expensive luxury only available through dentists, today, it is widely accessible and affordable. In-office whitening remains the gold standard for dramatic results, but quality at-home whitening kits can also provide good whitening at a fraction of the cost.
Most dental insurance plans don’t cover cosmetic treatments, but teeth whitening is no longer strictly a cosmetic treatment. Given the health benefits of whitening, more insurance plans are starting to cover and offset some of the costs. Teeth whitening is more attainable today than ever.
Bottom line
For people unsatisfied with the dull, yellowed colour of their smiles, teeth whitening offers a proven way to safely and effectively whiten teeth. It removes stubborn stains, improves oral health, makes your smile more radiant, and gives a confidence boost. While the cosmetic benefits are readily apparent, the health and psychological perks of whitening are equally advantageous.
With new advances making whitening affordable and accessible, there’s no reason to put off getting a brighter, healthier smile. If you live in the Bayswater area, contact Bayswater Dentist today to schedule a professional whitening treatment. Our experienced dentists can advise you on the best options to dramatically whiten your teeth and rejuvenate your smile.