West Australians who whiten their teeth from the comfort of their own home or at beauty clinics without first consulting a dentist risk irreversible damage, experts warn.
According to Dr Justina Teo, a dentist at Advanced Dental Artistry in West Perth, almost a quarter of Australians underwent teeth whitening last year.
She says “yellow teeth shame” is a real issue, fueled by social media and its influencers showing off their perfect smiles, but points out that our teeth are not supposed to be pearly white.
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READ NOW“Teeth naturally have a yellow shade to them due to the dentine under the enamel,” explains Dr Teo.
“Stains can also be picked up by pigments from the foods we eat or drink.”
She warns some DIY treatments that focus on bleaching can ruin smiles if the concentration of the gel and its application is not right.
She also cautions against attending teeth whitening boutiques, where the procedure may be carried out by an unqualified dental practitioner.
Before any dental procedure, patients must have a dental check-up first to ensure their mouth is clear of decay, gum disease, receding gums and there are no cracks in teeth or other underlying dental issues.
“For an optimum teeth whitening result, the bleaching procedure should be performed by an experienced dentist and not a beautician,” explains Dr Teo.
“The whitening gel has a higher concentrate of peroxide than DIY kits and toothpastes and will deliver a safer, faster and more effective and professional result.
“Before any dental procedure, patients must have a dental check-up first to ensure their mouth is clear of decay, gum disease, receding gums and there are no cracks in teeth or other underlying dental issues.”
Creating a brighter smile may be as simple as having a scale and polish to remove stains, plaque and tartar build up, she adds.
“If a professional scale and polish doesn’t provide the desired level of whiteness, dentists can treat yellow or stained teeth with in-chair teeth whitening or a more complex procedure involving porcelain veneers,” says Dr Teo.