Whitening

Whitening does not damage your teeth. It does however, open up the dentinal tubules in your teeth (think of them as pores on your teeth) and make them more susceptible to temperature sensitivity. Those pores eventually close back up, usually in a matter of a couple of days. Although whitening does not damage your teeth, it does have the potential to damage your gums. That is why dentists rarely recommend over the counter boil-and-bite type of whitening appliances.

Another question that typically comes up during whitening discussion is, “how long does it last?” The answer is it varies. Ideally, the effects should last at least a year, up to three or four. However, that timeline will be shortened by staining causing habits such as smoking, red wines, certain mouth rinses among others.

There are generally three whitening options, each with their own advantages and disadvantages.

One Hour In-Office
Take Home Trays
Crest Whitestrips

Dr. Chen’s Opinion:

Whitening your teeth has become a simple straight-forward procedure that yields consistent results. It is such a simple procedure and results can be so dramatic.

I recommend the take-home trays to most people for a variety of reasons. The most important being, YOU control the pace of whitening. I have trays made for myself and my family members.