How can I keep my teeth white?
The best way is to brush your teeth carefully twice a day, to floss daily and to see your dentist regularly for continuing care visits ("checkups") and preventive hygiene care. Limit stain-causing foods and habits. These include tobacco, certain foods and beverages (such as coffee, tea, red wine and berries), some drugs (such as tetracycline) or trauma to the tooth. It is normal for teeth to become slightly darker with age, and some people's teeth are naturally darker than others.
Can the dentist make my teeth whiter?
Yes. In the dental office, chairside whitening takes 30 to 50 minutes and one to three visits. A shield (made of rubber) may be used to protect the gums from
the whitening agent (a form of hydrogen peroxide) which is painted onto the discoloured teeth. Mouthguard whitening is done by yourself at home. You wear a custom mouthguard with a special whitening gel from your dentist and apply it for a period of time each day or overnight for a period of weeks. This approach provides the most consistent and reliable whitening improvement. Individual response to whitening varies from person to
person. The amount of whitening depends on the number of teeth involved and the severity and type of discolouration. We do not recommend the over-the-counter at-home whiteners because they can cause problems associated with over-exposing the gum tissue to the active whitening agent. It is also important for your dentist to first diagnose the reason for the discoloration of your teeth. Any whitening treatment should be done under the supervision of a dentist.