Ask a Dentist

Q: How do teeth whiteners work?

A young woman stands outside with a big smile.

Teeth come in all shapes, sizes and colours, but in many Western cultures we have learned to associate bright, white teeth with good health and attractiveness. There are a lot of reasons that we make that connection, and some are more obvious than others. 

Activities like smoking or ingesting tobacco normally stain teeth to a yellow or brown colour, and these behaviours are sometimes linked to poor health. Of course, many other habits, such as drinking red wine and coffee or eating foods high in pigment such as blueberries, have the ability to stain teeth as well, and some of these things are actually good for us.

Today, a white smile gives an impression of overall health as well as access to good dental care. Many of our patients express a sense of confidence that comes along with white teeth which has a positive impact on their work and personal relationships.

Given that, you may be considering whitening your teeth. There are a variety of at-home methods used for whitening teeth, but virtually all of them use an abrasive bleaching solution which mechanically removes the stains and discolouration on teeth.

Our offices use Zoom Whitening, which uses a hydrogen peroxide mixture as well as a lamp that helps to activate the bleaching materials. This process is a great alternative to at-home kits which can be tricky for first-time users. It takes all the work out of the whitening process and ensures that a trained practitioner is properly applying the chemicals, so you get the best results possible.

Your dentist can help determine if whitening is a good option for you. Access to a full dental record is important as veneers, crown and implants won’t respond to bleaching the way that your natural teeth will, and this is important to know before you go ahead with a bleaching procedure. 

If you’d like to learn about Zoom Whitening or have a consultation to see if it’s right for you, book an appointment today at either of our Winnipeg locations.

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