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Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

Am I too young for teeth whitening?

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ever since i was 13 i have been asking my mom 2 get my teeth whitened by she wouldn’t let me. now i am almost 17 & i work part time after school so she said it’sokay but she still thinks i am still 2 young. this is something i really want and i promise 2 keep up with the touchups and not overbleach bcz i know it will hurt my teeth if i do. i am wondering if there is a min. age for teeth whitening and if so what is that age. also will it be hard 2 find a place that will sell it 2 me or if teenagers might get carded for the bleaching stuff like we do for liquor even tho it’s not alcohol. thanks. leeya

Leeya – It sounds as if you are thinking of purchasing over-the counter whitening kits and doing the treatment yourself. We don’t recommend this at all.

As long as your permanent teeth are fully developed, whitening them should be safe. But there is no way to be certain of the outcome without visiting a dentist. Do you want your teeth whiter to improve your smile, or are there stains in your teeth?

An examination from a dentist will show whether or not whitening them will be helpful or harmful. A dentist will also let you know if you can expect sensitivity in your teeth from the bleaching gel. If sensitivity is expected, he or she will know which gel strength will be best for you. You will also receive customized trays to keep the gel in contact with your teeth and away from your gums, to prevent burning and pain.

You will not be carded, or asked to show identification, if you purchase do-it-yourself bleaching gel. The results may be limited though, and you can’t be certain how your teeth will respond to the gel.

Think about asking your dentist how he or she can make brightening your smile affordable for you.

 

This post is sponsored by Lowell cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

2 minute tooth brushing but teeth aren’t noticeable whiter

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I’ve followed the 2 minute tooth brushing guideline for about 3 to 4 months but my teeth aren’t noticeable whiter. They feel cleaner than when I quickly brushed them. They are just not whiter though. How long will it take to see some results? Pilar T.

Pilar – Although two-minute tooth brushing is a way to ensure your teeth are clean and that debris is removed from them, it won’t necessarily make your teeth whiter. If you’re using peroxide-based toothpaste, you may eventually see the results, but they will be minimal.
Whitening your teeth and breaking down the stains below the surface is successful with carbamide peroxide bleaching gel. Professional-strength gel comes from a dentist, along with bleaching trays to keep the gel in contact with your teeth. It’s the prolonged contact on your teeth helps the gel break down stains in them.

Some people have tried self-whitening only to find that the bleaching gel wasn’t strong enough, or in some cases, that it made stains more noticeable. That’s where a dentist helps—anticipating the results you will get and recommending the correct treatment based on the type of stains in your teeth

We encourage you to continue to thoroughly brush your teeth, but if you really want them whiter, consider getting them professionally whitened. Ask your dentist how whitening your teeth can be made affordable for you.

This post is sponsored by Lowell cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

 

Do teeth whitening pens work?

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I got an email from Living Social for teeth whitening pens for under $20. The ad says that the regular price is over $100, so I am guessing that these must work really well. Do they? – Meghan

Meghan – The results you will get from a pen for teeth whitening depend on several factors:

  1. The cause of the stains in your teeth – Depending on the cause of the stains in your teeth, the whitening gel may not whiten them at all. In some cases, it can actually make the stains worse.
  2. The gel – Type of gel and the strength of the gel in the pen determine how white your teeth will get. Some gels will only remove surface stains. If stains are embedded in your teeth, you will see limited results. Additionally, some pens only paint the teeth white. These painting pens contain no ingredients to break down stains in your teeth.
  3. The means of keeping the gel on your teeth – Customized whitening trays keep bleaching gel pressed against your teeth so the gel will penetrate them. Customized trays also protect your gums from irritation or burning by the gel. When you apply bleaching gel with a whitening pen and no trays are used, you will lose some of the gel between your inner lip and teeth. The gel might even irritate your lips and gums. Much of the gel will be lost, so your teeth won’t get as white as with custom trays.
  4. The source of the whitening pen – Some dentists provide whitening pens after professional whitening treatment. These pens are effective in helping you maintain a brilliantly white smile. But they are not used to whiten your teeth from the start. In-office or take-home treatment with professional-strength gel and supervision by the dentist are completed first.

Before you whiten your teeth, we recommend that you ask your dentist to examine them to anticipate the results you will receive and to determine if this is the right treatment to brighten your smile. You can also ask your dentist how he or she can make teeth whitening affordable for you.

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.