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Pain with teeth whitening

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I had dental bonding done about seven years ago. Since then I’ve been whitening my teeth, the dental bonding isn’t whitening, but that isn’t why I am writing. Recently, I’ve started having pain for about 30 seconds right where the bonding connects to the chipped teeth. Do you think the teeth whitening is damaging the bond?

Fanny

Dear Fanny,

Photo of teeth whitening trays in a blue case.
Teeth whitening trays

You didn’t mention whether or not you are under the supervision of a dentist during your teeth whitening or if you are doing an over-the-counter teeth whitening. There are a couple of ways in which the method you chose won’t matter.

First, neither form of teeth whitening will weaken the bond. Second, neither method will whiten your dental bonding. Even professional teeth whitening will only whiten natural tooth structure. The only way to whiten your dental bonding would be to re-do it.

Here’s where their differences in the methods lie. The strength of over the counter teeth whitening is only a fraction of what you get through a dentist. You have to do countless kits to get the same value in teeth whitening. The second difference is the care you get.

A dentist would be monitoring any complications which would come up during the process, including pain and gum issues.

The pain you are experiencing is likely because of a sensitive spot on that tooth where the bonding agent has worn down. With the age of your bonding, that doesn’t surprise me.

Here’s what I recommend. See your dentist and let him or her know what is going on. There is a way they can cover the sensitive part while your teeth whitening is going on. That should cover the pain.

Then, you can continue the whitening until you get to the level of brightness you want. From there, you can get your dental bonding replaced to match the newer color.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

matching teeth to eyeballs?

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I wanted to know if it is possible to use teeth whitening to match my teeth to my eyeballs?

Luke

Dear Luke,

custom-fitted teeth whitening trays

I want to give you points for the most unique question I have received. There are two factors in answering this question.

First, a lot of the answers will depend on one how white your eyeballs are. While teeth can be bleached exceptionally white, there are limits to its whitening ability.

The second factor is that teeth whitening results vary quite a bit. This is why when someone is getting a complete smile makeover we have them bleach their teeth first. You get much more accurate results when you are matching porcelain veneers to a color, than when you are using teeth whitening.

If it is just a color you are going for, then you can attempt to do it with teeth whitening and see if it gives you the color you want. It is the least expensive way to give yourself a mini makeover.

However, if there was more you wanted to change about your teeth, such as their shape or size, in addition to the color, then the way to go is with porcelain veneers.

As I mentioned above, they can be made to any color you desire. But that isn’t all. A great cosmetic dentist can lengthen and widen your teeth, completely changing the character of your smile. Depending on how the dentist shapes your teeth, he can change the appearance of your smile to look youthful, sporty, authoritative…whatever you want.

However, it does require some expertise and will be more expensive. Unlike teeth whitening, which any dentist can do equally well, to do truly beautiful smile makeovers takes advanced technical and artistic ability.

This is only developed after extensive post-doctoral training. Doing smile makeovers isn’t taught in dental school. In your place, I’d look for an AACD accredited dentist. They are in the top 1% of cosmetic dentists in the country. Any smile they create for you will be absolutely stunning.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

fixing this dental bonding

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I had dental bonding done by my dentist in the previous state I lived in. It was getting old and picking up stains so my new dentist tried to spruce it up with teeth whitening. That seemed to just make it darker. Is there some way to whiten this bonding?

Kathy

Dear Kathy,

Photo of teeth whitening trays in a blue case.
Teeth whitening trays

Unfortunately, teeth whitening will not work on your dental bonding. It isn’t just bonding. It won’t work on any dental work. The reason your dental bonding looks darker is the teeth whitening did work on your natural teeth while your bonding stayed the same color.

There is not a way to whiten old bonding. Instead, you’re going to need to have it re-done. I don’t think your current dentist will be the one to do it. He or she didn’t understand how teeth whitening works, which is the bare basics of cosmetic dentistry. Dental bonding takes an expert level of cosmetic skill to get right.

In your place, I’d look for a dentist recommended on the mynewsmile.com website. They pre-screen dentists who wish to be listed for both their technical training and their artistic skill.

One thing you might want to consider is upgrading to porcelain veneers. Your bonding will have to be re-done every few years, When porcelain veneers are well cared for, they can last for two decades. Again, you would need to have this done by a cosmetic dentist.

You can stay with your current dentist for all your general work. However, when you go in for cleanings, make sure they know not to use anything like a prophy jet or acidulated fluoride. Both of those will take the glazing right off your cosmetic work. This will ruin them and cause them to pick up stains.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

whitening tetracycline teeth

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I’ve had tetracycline-stained teeth since I was a child. It has always been a source of horrible embarrassment for me. My dentist said teeth whitening wouldn’t do much good for me and not to waste my money. He didn’t have a solution for me either. Is there anything I can do or am I just going to have to learn to live with a smile I’d rather hide?

Betsy

Dear Betsy,

While one particular brand of teeth whitening has had more success with these stains than others, most make hardly any difference at all. That doesn’t mean all is lost.

As you can see from this smile makeover that Dr. Deluane did on a patient, there is a way to obtain a beautiful smile after tetracycline stains. Here Dr. Delaune used porcelain veneers. This enabled him not only to cover her stains, but to reshape her teeth to add length.

I don’t want you to think you can just run to your family dentist and get porcelain veneers and all will be beautiful and shiny. These are among the most difficult cosmetic dentistry cases to do. It would take a dentist with advanced cosmetic training.

The difficulty comes in needing to make the porcelain veneers opaque enough to cover the dark tetracycline stains, yet translucent enough to have their natural shine.

Finding an Expert Cosmetic Dentist

I’m going to suggest you go to the mynewsmile.com website. A cosmetic dentist cannot just pay to be listed. They have to prove their cosmetic education as well as provide case samples to show they can get beautiful results.

However, while everyone listed on that site is an expert cosmetic dentist, tetracycline cases are a beast of their own. I’d like you to go one step further and ask to see specific before and after pictures of cases they’ve done dealing with tetracycline. You want to be certain they’re able to get the beautiful results you’re dreaming of. Then, you will have a smile you are delighted to share with the world.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

For whiter teeth do i brush before or after tea?

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I had teeth whitening done about a month ago and am hoping to maintain the results as long as possible. However, I’m getting conflicting information as to whether I should be brushing before or after my tea. One person said that if I brush before, I’m opening up pores on my teeth and they’ll pick up stains quicker. Another person said that if I brush after tea, which is what I’ve been doing to get the tea off my teeth quickly, I’ll damage my teeth because the tea is acidic. Which is correct?

Thank you,

Maya

Dear Maya,

womean covering her mouth with her hand
When your teeth are stained it can be embarrassing to smile.

You’re asking good questions. Your teeth whitening results will last longer if you’re mindful with your tea habits. Ideally, you’d give up tea, but since that’s probably not realistic, let’s focus on what you can do when you indulge anyway.

Drink in One Session and Don’t Sip for a Prolonged Period of Time

It sounds like you’ve got this one nailed, but it’s worth mentioning. People who sip on tea and coffee all morning or all day pick up stains faster than those who finish their drinks in one go.

It’s Ok to Brush Before Tea

The concept of “pores” opening when you brush is an urban legend. While you do have tubules in your teeth, they have plugs in them. Very few things disrupt those plugs, but it’s generally restricted to things that happen in the dental chair, such as restorative work and professional teeth whitening.

The tubules develop new plugs within a day or two, so you’d want to avoid tea during that span so you don’t sabotage your efforts but otherwise, you’re good to go in that department.

Be Wary of Brushing After Tea

The problem with acidic foods and beverages is that they lower the pH of your mouth. Ideally, it should be closer to a 7.0, but a little variation in either direction isn’t too much cause for concern. When your mouth is more on the acidic side (anything below 7.0), your teeth demineralize. That means they lose calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals that make them strong and block decay. Your enamel and dentin will also soften for a period of time after consuming an acidic beverage.

However, as your pH returns to normal, they’ll pick up the minerals in your saliva (remineralize) and will harden again. Problems set in when you either don’t provide your teeth with an environment to remineralize or you brush while the enamel is still “soft.” In doing so, you can actually remove the softened layer and it doesn’t grow back. That’s referred to as acid erosion, though there are several alternate causes of it.

For the record, black tea is usually a 4.9-5.5 pH, making it one of the more acidic things you can introduce into your mouth, though it will vary depending on how you brew it and other factors. Coffee is usually around a 4.5- 6.0 pH, for comparison. Sodas and juices—especially citrus juice—can go as low as 2.0. Battery acid is a 0.0.

Rinse or Rebalance After Tea Instead of Brushing

One of the easiest ways to remove any residual tea is to give your mouth a quick rinse with water after you finish. If you have concerns about acid erosion or demineralization, you can also restore balance by using a pH neutral mouthwash after or by mixing one part baking soda to eight parts water and rinsing with that.

Fluoride may be an alternative to help create stronger teeth as well, though it obviously does nothing for staining. It doesn’t work in exactly the same way minerals will, but it also isn’t quite as sensitive to environmental factors, which is why it’s been trusted as a cavity-fighting tool for generations.

This blog is sponsored by New Orleans Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

when porcelain veneers are an overtreatment

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I talked to my dentist about getting my teeth whiter. I was thinking of teeth whitening, but he suggested I get porcelain veneers. He said then he could whiten my teeth and close a small gap I have at the same time. While I like the idea of not having my tooth gap any longer, the price he quoted me is pretty high. Could I whiten my teeth and then get the porcelain veneers later when I have the money?

Macey

Dear Macey,

custom-fitted teeth whitening trays

I am not comfortable with your dentist’s recommendation. To me, if you just want your teeth whitened, porcelain veneers are a massive (and expensive) overtreatment.

Porcelain veneers are a procedure for patients looking for a total smile makeover. It is the go-to procedures for celebrities looking for that perfect smile. They can simultaneously change the shape, size, and color of your teeth.

Yes, they can close your tooth gap, and you could get your teeth whitening done and then later get porcelain veneers, but you could close your tooth gap at a much lower cost with dental bonding. In fact, that’s what I’m going to suggest you do.

I want you to get your teeth whitened. Then, after a couple of weeks when the color has had time to settle, see a cosmetic dentist to close the gap in your front teeth.

Because this procedure is done free-hand, it really needs to be done by a skilled cosmetic dentist.

I’m going to suggest you look on mynewsmile.com to see their list of recommended cosmetic dentists in your area. They prescreen each dentist who wishes to be listed for both technical skill as well as artistry. Any one of their listed dentists will provide you will stunning results.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

does teeth whitening cause cavities?

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I’ve been doing teeth whitening off and on for most of my adult life. I take a lot of pride in my appearance and having a bright smile is important to me. Nobody ever said that it could damage my smile. To be fair, I don’t get a lot of cavities, but my teeth are more sensitive these days and I hear that’s a warning sign. Since I started reading up on it, I’ve stopped using whitening toothpastes and do not plan to use the system I got from my dentist anymore, but I’m worried I’ve caused irreversible damage. If it has caused damage, is there anything I can do to reduce the risk?

Sincerely,

Thad

Dear Thad,

custom-fitted teeth whitening trays

It sounds like you got a mix of inaccurate information and half-truths. Let’s break down what healthy teeth are like, how cavities form, and how teeth whitening products work.

Your Enamel is Strong and Packed with Minerals

Your enamel is the hardest substance in your body and it protects the under layers of your teeth. However, the enamel shouldn’t be thought of as unchangeable or impermeable. For example, people who brush really hard or grind their teeth can wear it down over time. Plus, acid can cause the minerals to seep out of your teeth which leaves them susceptible to decay. And, believe it or not, your teeth are actually porous as well. Your tubuals, which provide a pathway from the outside of your tooth to the inside, are typically closed shut though.

Under Optimal Circumstances, Your Teeth Will Remineralize

Bacteria and the things you put in your mouth, including food and dental products, can change your oral pH, and once you have an acidic mouth, teeth demineralize. The opposite is true as well. If you can restore pH and have healthy minerals in your saliva, your teeth will pick them up. This in mind, if you constantly create an acidic environment and never give your teeth a chance to remineralize, you will have weak spots in the enamel and decay can set in. This is why fluoride is such a huge thing. It can strengthen teeth even if they aren’t given the ideal remineralization environment.

Teeth Whitening Products are NOT Inherently Dangerous

Products designed to whiten your smile are not the enemy, but they do come with some side-effects, depending on what you’re using.

Acidic Products: Generally speaking, teeth whitening products are acidic, but not all are. That’s a worry if you constantly use one that is lower than a 7.0 pH and never get your mouth back to the neutral state or aren’t using fluoride to help remineralize. Chances are, however, you’re using a fluoride toothpaste. Unless you’ve actively looked for one that isn’t, it’s standard practice to include it. You may also struggle with this more if you aren’t a great brusher or delight in acidic or sugary foods, such as coffee, sports drinks, citrus fruits, and sodas. (The bacteria which causes decay noshes on carbohydrates and releases acids as a byproduct, which is why sugars contribute too.)

Abrasive Products: Many toothpastes lift surface stains with their abrasiveness. If you’re using a whitening toothpaste, there is some chance it’s abrasive and wearing down the enamel. As the enamel thins, you’ll have more sensitivity and may be more susceptible to decay. It also tends to sabotage your efforts. Many of them work by their abrasiveness removing the surface stains. Unfortunately, that also means they’re scratching your enamel which makes it easier to pick up more stains.

Professional Products: Professional-grade teeth whitening systems don’t just scrub off surface stains. They open the tubuals and oxidize from within, eliminating stains below the surface. The change is not permanent; the tubuals typically close up within a day or two. That’s why you’re told to avoid highly-staining foods and beverages altogether after treatment for a few days. Once they close back up, it’s business as usual. However, during those couple of days, you may experience some sensitivity. It doesn’t mean you’re more susceptible to decay though.

Fluoride Will Help

You don’t have to give up teeth whitening. However, you should take the sensitivity as a warning sign. Mention it to your dentist, so he can see if you’re already dealing with a cavity or have enamel erosion. If there’s no decay, fluoride, either provided in-office or via an over-the-counter gel or mouthwash, should help with any demineralization and sensitivity as well.

This blog is sponsored by New Orleans Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

luster premium home whitening

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I’m considering whitening my teeth. I know a lot of dentists tout the Zoom Whitening because it has the light that speeds up results. I noticed that the Luster Premium Home Whitening kit has the same light. It’s significantly less money than my dentist charges for Zoom. Do you know if they get similar results?

Cath

Dear Cath,

Patient using Zoom Whitening light
Zoom Whitening Light

I’ll address the light first. Yes, with Zoom Whitening the light activates the gel and allows you to meet your maximum whiteness in just one appointment.

The light from the Luster Premium kit is too weak to have any effect. My guess it is there to associate it with Zoom and help patients feel like it is making a difference.

The main whitening ingredient in this kit is also less than legitimate. This is a pigment in their SuperWhitener, Zinc Oxide. What it does is stick to the teeth to make them appear whiter. Unfortunately, that effect is temporary and will fade away.

Sadly, the consumer won’t realize that. They’ll see the whiter teeth in the beginning and feel like it is working. Then, continue purchasing the product thinking they “re-stained” their teeth.

Best Ways to Whiten Your Teeth

If you are after whitening your teeth quickly, than Zoom is the standard. It works. However, it is pricier than other options. If the price tag is what’s bothering you, then it is more affordable to do traditional teeth whitening through your dentist.

He’ll custom design trays for your teeth and provide you with professional strength whitening gel. You’ll place the gel in the trays and wear them for a minimum period of time every day at your convenience at home.

These can also help you achieve your maximum whitening potential. It will just take a few weeks rather than one appointment. Though it does have the benefit of you getting to control the level of whitening. With Zoom, you get the maximum. Period. With at-home whitening, once you achieve the level you want, you simply stop wearing the trays and gel.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

Can I bleach my non-veneered teeth?

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I had four porcelain veneers done several years ago. They look fine, but the teeth next to them have stained a bit and it looks weird having white teeth and not white teeth when I smile. I was thinking of getting Crest Whitestrips but don’t want to hurt the veneers. Would it be safe?

Mia

Dear Mia,

custom-fitted teeth whitening trays

Crest Whitestrips are safe for your teeth and they will whiten them some, but very slowly. They only cover a few teeth so to get the teeth you need whitened, you’ll need to cut them and try to fit them on those teeth.

I wouldn’t use other over-the-counter products. They’re not as safe. Some have citric acid and some have things which will etch the teeth to make the look whiter. Unfortunately, they also cause micro scratches on your teeth which will cause them to pick up stains.

Consider Professional Teeth Whitening

If you want to whiten them faster, you may want to consider professional teeth whitening with a dentist. They can get all the teeth you want without any damage to your porcelain veneers.

Another option would be to add porcelain veneers to the teeth which are exposed when you smile. This way you wouldn’t have to constantly worry about the discrepancy in color.

In fact, originally, your cosmetic dentist should have suggested to cover all your teeth visible when you smile. For most smiles, that would mean 6-8 veneers. Some wide smiles require up to ten.

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.

Can you whiten your teeth too much?

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Teeth whitening can give you an amazingly white smile. But what if you’re hooked on it? Is it a harmless or harmful?

What’s Normal for Teeth Whitening?

Photo of teeth whitening trays in a blue case.
Teeth whitening trays

Normally, you can whiten your teeth until they reached the desired shade. It takes a few days for the shade to settle in, so after about two weeks of whitening, you should wait a few days before continuing whitening. But can you continue whiten your teeth continuously for months?

What Happens If You Overuse Teeth Whitening?

Excessive whitening can damage teeth, their roots, and your gums.

  • Teeth – Tooth enamel can wear away. If that happens, you’ll lose your brilliantly white smile and your teeth will look gray or blue instead. Your teeth can also become sensitive to heat or cold foods and beverages.
  • Gums – The gum tissue around your teeth can be burned by the chemicals in the gel or get irritated. Inflamed gum tissue leads to periodontal disease, which can cause damage your gums and teeth. In severe cases, soft-tissue grafting might be required.
  • Roots – As your gums get irritated and recede, your tooth roots will be exposed. If you continue whitening, you’ll also feel sensitivity in your roots.

Take a Break

  • Whitening might not be the right treatment – Did you realize that bleaching your teeth isn’t always the best solution for removing stains or making them whiter? Speak with your dentist before you begin whitening them. If your gums or teeth are not healthy—or if you have cavities developing—those issues should be treated first.
  • Pause between treatment – After you whiten your teeth for two weeks, take a break and let the color settle. If you want to continue whitening, only do it for a week longer. Touch-ups are only needed every few months.
  • Whitening gel – Only use FDA-approved gel. Avoid using cheap gel in packages that don’t reveal the contents.

This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.