3 Major Questions You May Have Regarding Teeth Whitening

Do you have teeth that are yellow and discolored? Do you want a smile that is whiter and more attractive? While many people want to have a smile with beautiful white teeth, not everyone knows how to attain their goals. Questions and misinformation can keep people from whitening their teeth as they would otherwise like to do. Fortunately, it's easier than ever to find out at least some of what you want to know before asking your dentist about the rest. Some things you may be wondering about having your teeth whitened include:

Does teeth whitening hurt? Having your teeth whitened does cause some temporary sensitivity. However, this sensitivity goes away in a fairly short time span. After whitening, your teeth may be sensitive to things like heat or cold for approximately 48 hours. If this sensitivity causes too much discomfort, over the counter painkillers should help. If your teeth are already sensitive or you're worried about making them sensitive, talk to your dentist. He or she may be able to use a less drastic approach to teeth whitening. While this method wouldn't be as strong as what you might otherwise get and will take longer as a result, the eventual results will be the same.

How long does teeth whitening last? This will depend greatly upon both your actual teeth and your diet. If you avoid food and drinks that are known to cause drastic teeth discoloration, such as tea or coffee, your teeth will stay whiter for longer than if you continue to consume large quantities of these things. If you must have your coffee or tea, drinking these beverages with a straw will help keep the liquids from coming in contact with your teeth and causing damage. Your dentist can give you a more complete list of items that should be avoided.

What if the whitening doesn't work? While teeth whitening works for most people, some people have teeth that are simply too discolored for even dentist-strength whitening products to work well. In this instance, veneers or crowns are a couple more options for you to have white teeth. Both of these options are both more permanent and have a higher cost, so your dentist will likely recommend a course of whitening treatments before trying anything more drastic. If it does turn out that veneers are your only option for the white teeth that you've been dreaming about, it's possible that your dental insurance will cover at least some of the cost. 

For more information, you should contact a company such as Pike Dentistry.

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