The dentist is not an exciting destination for many. And while it’s pretty common to put off a visit to the dentist for as long as possible, it is a good idea to get into the habit of going in for whitening treatments regularly to get a brighter smile. But just how regular does that need to be?
Are Your Teeth Ready?
Whitening treatments are best performed on healthy teeth. If your teeth are not generally healthy, the dentist may refuse to do a whitening treatment. To keep your teeth white, it’s important to keep them healthy, which means going to the dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups. If your teeth aren’t healthy enough for a whitening treatment, the dentist may recommend a deep cleaning treatment or another procedure to get them ready.
Teeth at Risk
There are certain factors that put your teeth more in the “high risk” category, which means you’ll need to visit the dentist even more regularly to maintain a healthy, bright smile. If you already have gum disease or existing problems with your teeth, if you’re a smoker, if you’re a heavy coffee drinker, if you tend to get a lot of cavities or if you are pregnant, then you’re at a higher risk for dental problems. You should be going to see the dentist every three to four months for cleanings to maintain good mouth health.
What About Whitening?
A standard teeth cleaning will give you a whiter smile because your teeth will be polished at the end of a cleaning. However, teeth whitening is a separate procedure provided by the dentist. Teeth whitening appointments must be scheduled in addition to cleanings, and usually, these two procedures aren’t scheduled to happen during the same appointment.
Your teeth may be sensitive after the whitening procedure. This is one of the reasons it’s not advisable to have whitening treatments done too often, and why you want to start with healthy and strong teeth. It’s best to ask the dentist how often you can have teeth whitening done, but generally speaking, you don’t want to get a professional whitening more than once every three months. Brush your teeth with toothpaste for sensitive teeth in between appointments. Sensodyne is great brand for sensitive teeth. If you are going to whiten your teeth at home in between appointments, ask the dentist beforehand and inform them what products you would like to use to make sure they are not too harsh.
Whitening treatments can weaken the teeth because of the strong chemicals that are used to remove stains, and whitening too often can lead to a loss of tooth enamel. Once you get your teeth to the shade of white you desire, schedule whitening treatments less often for maintenance.
Get that healthy, happy smile you deserve. Take care of your teeth, because they take care of you!