Our patients here at Brooklyn Heights Dental love the results they get from the various teeth whitening treatments we offer. Whether you’re interested in take-home whitening kits or in-office whitening treatment, your smile is sure to be brilliant white. For many of us, stains on our teeth can influence the overall aesthetics of our smile, which can significantly impact our confidence.

We’re sure that there are patients that have considered teeth whitening before but were deterred by some false information. Although teeth whitening treatments are a great option for patients that want to get rid of tooth stains and enjoy a whiter smile, there are plenty of myths about teeth whitening that prevents patients from pursuing treatment. To explain more on this subject, Dr. Eugene Stanislaus sets the record straight and dispels the most common myths for our patients here in Brooklyn, NY.

Myth Busting: Top Five Teeth Whitening Myths

Are you interested in teeth whitening? Don’t let any horror story stray you away from treatment. In all likelihood, most stories are either fabricated or greatly exaggerated. Unfortunately, teeth whitening happens to be the most misunderstood cosmetic procedure out on the market. Some of the most common teeth whitening myths we hear include:

Whitening toothpaste is as good as treatment: Some patients are convinced that using other teeth whitening products like gum or toothpaste will work as well as treatment from a dental professional. You can find whitening agents in many of these products but the truth is the chemicals are too weak to make any noticeable change. In order to whiten your teeth, the chemicals needs to be in contact with your teeth for at least 20 minutes. With that being said, gum and toothpastes that claim to whiten are not a great option for those of you that want to really whiten your smile.

Whitening is safe at any age: Whitening is a great option for a majority of patients dealing with a dull smile. However, children shouldn’t whiten their teeth because it can actually damage the live tissue inside of the teeth.

Whitening causes tooth sensitivity: It’s true that some patients can experience tooth sensitivity after whitening their teeth but this only occurs temporarily and only in patients who already have a history of sensitive teeth. Sensitivity will vary from patient to patient and only last a few days at most.

Whitening harms your tooth enamel: This is a whitening myth that has been around for years and is far from the truth. Bleaching gel has been used for decades and is a completely safe method for teeth whitening. The FDA also regulates whitening gels to ensure they are safe for patients.

You can’t have teeth-staining food or drinks: We recommend steering clear of coffee, wine, and other food or drinks that cause stains for a few days after treatment. After a few days, you’re free to eat and drink as normal. It’s important to note that you may need to touch bleach again sooner if you’re a heavy coffee, wine or soda drinker.

Contact Brooklyn Heights Dental

We hope or prospective teeth whitening patients learned a lot about whitening treatment. Here at Brooklyn Heights Dental, we offer a range of whitening services to best suit your needs. To get started on your whitening process, contact our office today to schedule your consultation with Dr. Stanislaus.