Having a bright, clean smile will make a good impression on anyone you meet from a new friend, to a potential love interest, to a prospective employer. You may decide that you want to try whitening your teeth to give your smile an extra level. However, if it is your first time whitening your teeth you may ask whether it is bad to whiten your teeth.

A smile is a friendly expression of happiness, contentedness, kindness, and greetings. A smile is also typically one of the first things you notice when you are introduced to a stranger. While it is wrong to judge a book by its cover, people will naturally make cognitive discernments when they meet a new person. When you are preparing to meet someone new, you may take extra lengths to look nice. Continue reading to learn more about teeth whitening, safety tips for whitening, and to learn whether it is bad to whiten your teeth overall.

What Causes Tooth Discoloration?

Before you consider whitening your teeth, it is important to understand that a blinding white smile is not typically achieved naturally. Discoloration is often caused by plaque buildup and can be decreased by a disciplined brushing routine. However, even if you brush your teeth regularly, your teeth could have a yellowish tint. Each person’s smile will be more or less yellow depending on several factors including on an individual’s genetics, health and age. Age often plays a big part in an individual’s tooth discoloration because as we age our enamel can wear down. 

Smoking and tobacco use are also big culprits for tooth discoloration. Quitting these habits will not only help with the coloration of your teeth, but will drastically improve your overall oral health. Lastly, the kinds of foods that you consume can lead to discoloration of your teeth. Stains are commonly caused by dark colored drinks and foods with high sugar content. Some of the foods to avoid to maintain good tooth enamel and coloring include: tea, coffee, red wine, soda, colored candies, etc. Really every food has an impact on the color of your teeth but as long as you are conscious of your intake of the foods above and have proper oral care, your teeth will be okay. 

How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

There are all sorts of options out there for whitening your teeth. There are whitening products and whitening procedures that your dentist can do for you. Usually these products or procedures will use whitening ingredients such as hydrogen peroxide. When the hydrogen peroxide presses against your teeth, it reacts with the chemical bonds that are keeping stains stuck to your teeth and destroys those bonds. Once those bonds are removed, the stain will no longer stick to your teeth.

Is It Bad To Whiten Your Teeth?

So now that you know the background to tooth discoloration and understand how teeth whitening works, you may ask yourself whether it could be bad to whiten your teeth. The short answer is that it’s complicated. Whitening your teeth within the boundaries of going to a professional is safe. Using a random product from the drugstore that you have not cleared with your dentist could lead to tooth damage. Some whitening products use harsh ingredients that can be harmful to your enamel or gums. Even if you use a good product too often or go to a professional too often, your teeth could experience damage.

However the benefits of getting your teeth whitened can be very rewarding. You can achieve a whiter smile that you can be proud of and feel more confident when you meet new people. It is always advisable to go to a professional and to get your dentist’s authorization before trying out different whitening products. The very best way to safely and effectively get a whiter and brighter smile is to visit a professional cosmetic dentist. We at Sunset Dental Care offer cosmetic dental procedures including whitening services to Utah residents. To learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment, contact us today.