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Frequently Asked Questions

Tooth Whitening

Date Posted: 7/12/2005

Question
Should teeth be white?

Answer
Teeth in adults contain a mixture of yellow, red and grey colours, and between individuals there is a wide range of tooth shades that are normal. There is no one “correct” colour that teeth are supposed to be. It is normal for healthy unfilled teeth to darken and yellow with advancing age. Moreover, because of natural aging process within teeth, the effects of tooth whitening can not last forever, and in several years there may be a need for a "touch up" whitening treatment.

The portrayal of tooth shade in the mass media is not realistic since tooth shades are often manipulated by digitally “touching up” images, to remove yellowness from teeth. In addition, some models, actors and television personalities have had porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns placed on their teeth, and the shades of these may be lighter than the range of “normal” shades. Trying to achieve these more extreme shades of white by bleaching may be impossible or may involve using products well in excess of the manufacturer’s recommendations.



More questions in this category:

Should teeth be white?
Which dentist can bleach my teeth?
What are the likely causes of tooth discolouration?
Why is it important to know the likely causes of tooth discolouration?
How are surface stains treated?
What are “conventional” whitening toothpastes and how do they work?
What is tooth lightening?
How are internal stains treated?
Are there issues with oxygen-based bleaching methods?
Are peroxides safe to use?
What are advanced formula whitening toothpastes and how do they work?
Paint-on whitening treatments
Adhesive strips
“Home tray vital bleaching”
“Power bleaching”
How effective is home bleaching in whitening the teeth?
Is home bleaching safe?
What is home bleaching?
Are bleaching toothpastes very effective?
How long does the bleaching last?


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