There are SO many “tips and tricks” for teeth whitening.  I am here to remove some of the myths about bleaching your teeth.

Whitening Toothpaste Whitens Teeth

The reason why there is no clear recommended whitening toothpaste from dentists is that none of them really work.  At least for what patients are looking for.  Toothpaste in general contains an abrasive that serves to help microscopically scrape away plaque and tartar.  Whitening toothpastes have additives that can remove some minor surface staining but to get at the yellow core of the tooth you need something that will absorb deeply into the tooth. 

Bleaching Your Teeth is Bad for Them

This is a common misconception.  Whitening your teeth is not dangerous for your teeth when done in a controlled way with your doctor at Drs. Boyd.  Unfortunately, there are some side effects which include tooth sensitivity and gum irritation.  Tooth sensitivity is difficult to predict from patient to patient.  Generally it can be minimized with careful protection of the sensitive root areas and exposed dentin.  Gum irritation can occur with poorly fitting whitening trays or over the counter whitening strips.  When the whitening gel sits on the gum tissue for a prolonged period it burns the tissue and is painful.

Rinsing with Hydrogen Peroxide Whitens and Cleans Teeth

This is simply false.  Rinsing with hydrogen peroxide is not beneficial and is actually damaging to your gum tissue.  Hydrogen peroxide is good at initially cleaning our cuts that we get outside of our mouth.  We should not be rinsing with it.

Charcoal Toothpaste Whitens and is Good for Your Teeth

Activated charcoal has many health benefits! Unfortunately, they aren’t found by putting them in a toothpaste.  According to a study in the British Dental Journal, the charcoal added in the toothpaste is nothing more than a marketing gimmick.  None of the products are actually shown to be of any benefit for what they say they can do.  It doesn’t whiten teeth.  It may remove surface stain but so does regular toothpaste and at a fraction of the cost.

In Office Whitening is Better than Professional At-Home Whitening

This is actually false.  Single visit in office whitening is just as effective as at home whitening.  The main difference is the concentration of the whitening gel that is used.  The benefit is that you can have whiter teeth in one quick visit in about an hour and a half.  We use Philips Zoom whitening because we have had a the best whitening results with that system.  For patients that have had sensitivity with the higher concentration gel, we can use a very comfortable low concentration gel for a longer duration. 

You Can Whiten Your Existing Crowns and Veneers

Unfortunately this is not true.  Whitening gel cannot whiten existing restorations of any kind.  If you have existing crowns and want a whiter smile we can replace them using state of the art ceramic veneers and crowns that look like white natural teeth.

You Can’t Whiten Your Teeth in a Day

You can professionally whiten your teeth in as little as an hour and a half.  Using Philips Zoom whitening, we can lighten teeth up to 8 shades.  So if you have a big social event and want a fast bright smile, this is the way to go.

There is no bad time to get a whiter smile.  If you have additional questions or would like to schedule a consultation for your whitening procedure, please call our office at 212-755-9055.  You may also reach us by email at office@drsboyd.com.