About Whitening

Am I a Candidate for Whitening?

Tooth whitening is safe for most people and the best candidates are those who only have mild to moderate discoloration. But there are certain types of discoloration that cannot be corrected by whitening treatments, and there are certain dental or medical conditions that may reduce the chances tooth whitening will work for you. These include:

• Porcelain veneers, dental crowns, caps, fillings, or dental bonding on the front teeth. These synthetic materials do not respond well to bleaching products.

• Yellow teeth usually bleach well, however brown teeth may not whiten as much. Teeth with gray tones, white spots, or discoloration from a "dead" tooth may not bleach at all.

• Some conditions may become worse if teeth are bleached. These include: sensitive teeth or teeth with worn enamel, and patients with bruxism (grinding or gnashing of teeth) or temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ/TMD). In-office whitening procedures may be able to be performed in some cases with these conditions.

• Tooth whitening is not effective if tooth discoloration is caused by medications or a tooth injury.

You can help maintain the results by brushing, flossing, and rinsing daily. Also, avoid acidic and tannin-rich foods and beverages such as:

• Black teas and coffee

• White and red wine

• Sports drinks

• Carbonated beverages (dark and light-colored sodas)

• Berries and other strongly-colored foods

• Sauces (soy, tomato, curries)