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Have you ever wondered what the minimum age for teeth whitening is? The consensus among dental professionals is a patient should be at least 14 years of age to bleach their teeth. Bleaching younger than 14 years could increase the chances of irreversible damage to the nerves of your child’s teeth. Your best options would be to visit your Orange dentist and get a professional recommendation on the best method to lighten your teeth. Your dentist will examine how bad the staining is and the overall condition of your teeth. Some possible recommendations may include:

1) A thorough dental cleaning to scale off the tartar and remove the stain caused from tobacco use, food, and plaque.

2) Using a whitening toothpaste at home to polish off light stains. This technique does not lighten the internal color of your teeth.

3) If your teeth exhibit slight yellowing or discoloration, your dentist may suggest over the counter products such as gels or strips. However these products take longer to work. Also these products won’t eliminate darker stains or discolorations.

4) For deeper stains or yellowing, in-office bleaching and/or home bleaching may be recommended. In office bleaching (chairside) bleaching solutions used by your Orange dentist are stronger and contain a higher concentration of carbamide peroxide so you’ll see noticeable results in as little as one appointment. Home bleaching systems consist of a set of custom made mouthguards along with tubes of concentrated bleaching gel. Depending on the concentration of the bleaching gel, you’ll wear the trays from as little as twice a day to as long as overnight.

5) For heavily stained or damaged teeth, your dentist may suggest porcelain veneers, cosmetic bonding, or full coverage crowns to correct the problem.

The most effective treatment option depends on proper diagnosis of your staining. Only your Orange dentist is best qualified to determine which option is best for you.

While lightening your teeth is a safe procedure, it does have minor side effects. Your teeth can experience temporary sensitivity during and after the bleaching procedure. This will usually disappear when your treatment is finished. Patients who already experience extreme teeth sensitivity may not be good candidates for teeth whitening as the solutions may cause increased irritation of the teeth. If this is your situation ask your Orange dentist about the benefits of desensitizing treatment prior to brightening your teeth. If you have periodontal disease, your gums may also be sensitive to this procedure.

Teeth with a brown/gray discoloration or have a striped or mottled appearance from tetracycline treatment or too much flouride, are not good candidates for bleaching. It’s difficult to achieve an even result with these pre-existing conditions.

You should also be aware that bleaching will not lighten the color of your existing fillings, caps, or bonding. A better option to discuss with your Orange dentist would be the replacement of all your old fillings and crowns or the possibility of veneering over them.