Whitening

For most of us, the natural colour of our teeth is on a spectrum of shades from light greyish to yellow. While teeth darken naturally with age, discolouration is often affected by the accumulation of stains on the surface from drinking tea and coffee and using tobacco products, to name a couple of common culprits. 

Additionally, how we perceive the colour of teeth is significantly impacted by makeup and skin tone. Independent of tooth colour accuracy, individuals with darker skin tones or who use dark makeup will appear to have brighter teeth. 

And, although natural tooth colour is rarely bright white, many Canadians strive for a brighter, whiter smile. In answer to this demand, we offer a wide range of in-office teeth whitening and “whitening” options that fall into two main categories: surface whiteners and bleaches.

Please note: claims related to tooth whitening are considered cosmetic in nature by Health Canada. Any claims must be accurate so as not to mislead the public. However, the regulator tolerates some enhancement or exaggeration. As a consequence, the results of teeth whitening treatment may not be as convincing as consumers originally expected.

Surface whiteners

Surface whitening products use special abrasives to improve their ability to remove surface stains. Most whiteners in this category are either toothpaste or chewing gums. Because the abrasives used in these whitening products are often only finer versions of that used in regular toothpaste, they aren’t likely to cause excessive wear on the teeth. However, the effectiveness is largely limited to surface stains. They should not be used as a substitute for professional cleaning.

Bleaches

Most tooth-bleaching products are peroxide-based and can alter the colours of the tooth itself. It’s important to note that not all tooth discolourations respond to tooth-bleaching treatments. If you are contemplating a tooth-bleaching treatment, we recommend that you consult with a dentist. They can help you understand why your teeth are discoloured and help determine whether a bleaching treatment can offer you the desired result. This is a vital step for patients with crowns, fillings, root canal treatments, and/or with signifcant dark staining on the anterior teeth.

But, there are a variety of different teeth-bleaching techniques and products available to patients. To whiten your teeth, your dentist will use one of the following two methods:

• Vital bleaching. Performed on “living” teeth, it is used to whiten your teeth if they’re stained from food or tobacco or if they have darkened with age.

• Non-vital bleaching. This is performed on teeth that are no longer “alive.” If the tooth has changed colour due to a root canal, for example, non-vital bleaching can lighten your tooth from the inside out.

The best method for you depends on how many teeth need bleaching and how badly stained or discoloured they are. 

Already whitened? Looking for a refill solution?

Have you already had a dental teeth whitening treatment with us but are in need of a refill of a whitening solution?  We offer solution refills so you can continue your touch-ups at home. Just check in with reception!