Yes, badly stained teeth can often be whitened, but the best approach depends on the stain type (surface vs. deep), with professional treatments like in-office bleaching, take-home kits, or even alternatives like veneers or bonding offering solutions for stubborn cases where regular brushing fails.
Teeth whitening can be done using a kit bought from a dentist that you use for a few weeks, or with a laser at a dental surgery, which is quicker and more effective. The dentist should check your teeth and gums are healthy before you try teeth whitening, to make sure the treatment's right for you.
Patients with Restorations
If you have multiple restorations such as fillings, crowns, veneers, or dental bonding, teeth whitening may not be suitable. These materials do not whiten. Whitening can make your natural teeth and restorations have uneven color.
That depends on the cause. Brown staining from foods, drinks, or tobacco can be removed by cutting down on the culprit and improving your oral hygiene. For more stubborn stains, you may need at-home or professional whitening to remove brown stains.
Generally our teeth darken with age. The only way to return to the original whiteness of teeth is to use a bleach designed specifically for whitening teeth. Either good quality over the counter strips (Crest or Colgate) or even better, getting it done at a dental clinic.
Yes, professional teeth whitening is often considered worth it for faster, more dramatic, and safer results than over-the-counter (OTC) options, due to stronger gels, customized trays, and dentist supervision, though it costs more and results require maintenance. Whether it's "worth it" depends on your budget, desire for immediate results, and tolerance for potential temporary sensitivity, but it's generally superior for significant whitening.
Professional whitening works best on surface (extrinsic) stains. But some whitening products can remove deep dental (intrinsic) stains, too. In-office bleaching takes about one hour to complete. Most take-home whitening treatments require 30- to 60-minute daily treatments for up to six weeks.
Because we can't expose the insides of teeth and change their color, intrinsic stains cannot be removed with traditional teeth whitening. The best solution for white teeth for intrinsic stains is to cover the teeth with either veneers or cosmetic bonding.
The cost of professional teeth whitening will vary depending on whether you choose at-home or in-practice whitening. However, prices for at-home whitening typically range between £350 and £600, and in-practice whitening costs range from £600 to £900*.
The 2-2-2 rule in dentistry is a simple guideline for good oral hygiene: brush twice a day, for two minutes each time, and visit your dentist twice a year, helping to prevent cavities, gum disease, and other dental problems by establishing consistent habits for plaque removal and professional monitoring.
One of the main reasons some people cannot have their teeth professionally whitened is if they're allergic or sensitive to the whitening solution. You should avoid teeth whitening if you are allergic to any of these ingredients. You will also be disqualified if you have a lot of tartar and cavities on your teeth.
The "3-3-3 dental rule" usually refers to two different things: a hygiene habit (brush 3x a day, 3 mins each, change brush every 3 months) or a temporary pain relief method for toothaches (3 ibuprofen tablets, 3 times a day, for 3 days). The hygiene rule promotes better cleaning, while the pain rule manages inflammation until a dentist can be seen, but the medication rule requires caution and should be discussed with a doctor.
Because it's a simple and effective way to transform your smile, many seniors want to know if whitening is still possible after decades of staining. Fortunately, senior teeth can be whitened, and there's no age limit for achieving a brighter smile.
While aging may naturally cause your teeth to yellow, there are plenty of ways to whiten them and restore their brightness. From professional treatments to natural remedies, you have options to achieve a more youthful, confident smile.
It might be tempting to remove more tartar on your own. But doing this can damage your teeth and gums. Call your dentist if you notice tartar breaking off your teeth. They can remove the remaining tartar safely and effectively.
Undergoing teeth whitening treatments when you have tooth decay can pose several risks. The bleaching agents used in these treatments can penetrate the decayed tooth structure, reaching the pulp and causing irritation, inflammation, and increased sensitivity.
Yes, professional teeth whitening is often considered worth it for faster, more dramatic, and safer results than over-the-counter (OTC) options, due to stronger gels, customized trays, and dentist supervision, though it costs more and results require maintenance. Whether it's "worth it" depends on your budget, desire for immediate results, and tolerance for potential temporary sensitivity, but it's generally superior for significant whitening.
Common Foods and Drinks that Stain Teeth the Most
The most effective way to whiten your teeth is professional teeth whitening treatment applied by your dentist in the office. The results of this type of treatment can last between 1 and 3 years. In-office teeth whitening involves the following process: The gum tissue is protected from the effects of the bleaching gel.
With Colgate's patented 5% hydrogen peroxide formula (our highest level in an over-the-counter whitening toothpaste), this teeth whitening toothpaste is whitening that works. Remove 15 years of stains* with this stain removal toothpaste, which fights stains.
Biggest Tooth Decay Causing Snacks
You can only have Teeth whitening on your natural teeth. Teeth whitening cannot work on veneers, bridges, fillings and dental implants. These are all made up from artificial materials to match the teeth around them. Teeth whitening does not damage any of them, but it also cannot change their colour.
The good news is: Extrinsic teeth stains are not permanent! This type of stain can usually be corrected with professional teeth whitening treatments. We do recommend you avoid using at-home solutions (whitening mouthwash, whitening toothpaste, etc.)
You can't achieve 100% pure white teeth as natural teeth have slight variations, but you can get them very white and bright through professional treatments (veneers, in-office whitening) or at-home options (whitening strips, hydrogen peroxide rinses, baking soda pastes), alongside diligent oral hygiene, avoiding staining foods (coffee, red wine, tobacco), and regular dental checkups to prevent new stains and maintain results.
As we get older, the porous outer layer of enamel on our teeth begins to thin. This allows the naturally yellow material beneath it, called dentin, to show through more prominently. The thinner your enamel, the more dentin shows through, giving your teeth a yellow tint.