There are several reasons to envy celebrities: the opportunity to walk the red carpet in breathtaking designer gowns, vacations across the world, and access to some of the greatest makeup artists in the game. But it's those sparkling, pearly white grins that some of us want most of all.
While we may not be able to schedule a vacation to the Bahamas very soon, it is quite feasible to have pearly white, show-stopping teeth. As much as we want to believe the cure is oil pulling and charcoal products, we all need to add a few other steps to our morning/nighttime routine.
Before we give you all the teeth whitening tips, let's answer some essential questions.
Why are my teeth yellow if I brush them?
If you brush your teeth every day, but they’re not getting any whiter, the discolouration might be due to intrinsic stains rather than external staining. The toothbrush will not be able to remove deeply ingrained stains since the bristles can only reach the exterior surface of your tooth.
Your teeth might stay yellow because of other habits like drinking coffee throughout the day or smoking tobacco products. If you don’t know why your teeth aren’t whitening, it’s best to visit a nearby dentist or dental clinic.
Why won't my teeth whiten? Can yellow teeth even become white?
Yes, yellow teeth can become white again. To pinpoint why your yellow teeth aren’t whitening, you should figure out if you have intrinsic or external staining. The best way to do this is by visiting a local dentist.
Also, you should look at what you’re doing to whiten your teeth. Buying “whitening” products or using charcoal toothpaste might not be the best solution.
The best solution depends on intrinsic or external staining, oral health, and your budget for whitening products/services.
How long does it take for yellow teeth to turn white?
There is no standard timeline for how long it takes to whiten teeth. The process very much depends on how stained your teeth are, what type of staining you have, and what whitening practices you will incorporate into your oral hygiene routine.
LifeSmiles Dental Corp has a Power Whitening service that is a 1-hour customized whitening treatment. The gel is carefully applied to enamel and used with our Whitening light for instant results.
Most patients are happy with one treatment, but sometimes several are necessary.
Top 5 Tips for Teeth Whitening
For the best teeth whitening results, LifeSmiles Dental recommends a personalized plan from a professional dentist. Anyone with underlying medical or oral health issues should consult a doctor or dentist before trying some of our teeth whitening tips.
If you’re solely interested in learning more about the different types of teeth whitening practices, check out our “Professional Teeth Whitening vs At-Home Kits: Are they really that different?” blog.
1. Get The Scoop on your Oral Health
We’ve told you to visit a nearby dentist four times already… Is it any surprise this is our first tip? Everybody wants to skip this step because they don't have the funds for a dentist, a benefits package that covers dental costs, or they’re stuck on the DIY train.
Ultimately, dentists dedicate their life to oral health–no one will tell you what's up like a dentist will. Before you start testing DIY treatments or booking cosmetic treatments, you need to know what type of staining you have, if there are any whitening products/ingredients you should avoid, the health of your enamel, and so on.
2. Don’t Slack on your Brushing, Flossing, and Mouth Washing
Brush your teeth twice daily, floss after every meal, and rinse your mouth!!! Do this if your teeth are yellow. Do this if your teeth are white. Do this if you’re trying to get your yellow teeth to become white.
These three steps are insanely crucial to your oral health. Yes, they’re redundant and obvious, but somehow often overlooked.
3. Certain Foods and Drinks will Stain Your Teeth
While it is expected for the colour of our teeth to fade and discolour over time, several foods and drinks might accelerate this process.
Highly acidic meals can erode the enamel of your teeth, leading to subsequent dental issues such as cavities. The deterioration of this enamel weakens teeth and makes them more vulnerable to stains.
Foods and drinks to avoid for white teeth:
Sugary foods, like candy or sugary cereals
Starchy foods, like bread and pasta
Sugary drinks, like sodas
Drinks with higher acidity and staining properties, like coffee, red wine, and tea
Foods and drinks to enjoy for white teeth
Calcium-rich foods, like milk and cheese
Sugar-free drinks, like water
Vegetables, like carrots and celery
Sugar-free gum and other sweet treats
4. Beware of DIY Remedies and Research Whitening Products
We’re not saying that you can’t whiten your teeth naturally, but we are saying: you can’t believe everything on the internet.
A lot of natural remedies encourage a fruit-based diet, but some fruits are highly acidic and can cause further damage to your oral health.
People were rinsing with hydrogen peroxide–a reasonable misunderstanding since it’s an active ingredient in many bleaching products–but this is a dangerous idea. Undiluted or misused hydrogen peroxide can cause burning and internal bleeding.
In 2021, the risks of at-home whitening kits came to light. After testing 36 at-home whitening products, the results found that 20 of the 36 products contained an illegal level of bleach. AliExpress, Amazon and eBay were third-party retailers of these products.
Depending on where you live, there are limitations on how much hydrogen peroxide can be in a product. In the UK (where the study took place), the limit is no more than 0.1%, while the legal limit for application by professional dentists is 6%.
Six tested teeth whitening products contained more than 10% hydrogen peroxide. YIKES.
Trusting online natural remedies or whitening products can be risky and counterproductive: do extensive research.
5. Professional Teeth Whitening Services and Kits
We get it–professional teeth whitening services are expensive. The treatment doesn't fit into everyone’s budget, but ultimately if you’re spending $50 a month on whitening toothpaste, mouthwash, teeth whitening strips or whatever else, you could afford the treatment in a year.
Sometimes you have to think long term for the best results. With a professional teeth whitening service or at-home kit, your treatment is custom to your specific issues and sensitivity. It makes a huge difference.
The Best Teeth Whitening in Winnipeg
LifeSmiles Dental Corp provides a safe and effective teeth whitening service and an at-home kit to Winnipeggers. With flexible hours, state-of-the-art technology, and a no-surprise policy for financials, we’re an obvious choice for teeth whitening. You can even watch our teeth whitening treatment from beginning to end!
Cosmetic dentistry is a big step, and we totally understand it can be nerve-racking, so if you have any other questions on teeth whitening or other cosmetic procedures–we’d love to hear from you!
Send general inquiries through our online form or call one of our six clinics in Manitoba.