There's nothing like a nice, bright smile to make you look instantly younger and fresher. With various products and options for whitening and brightening your teeth, knowing what'll give you the best results can take a lot of work. So, here's an overview of tooth-whitening options and products to clear your path to your most beautiful smile.
Purple Toners for Teeth: Does It Work?
You've probably seen ads for purple tooth toner. It looks great, but does it work? Did TikTok make you want to buy it? These over-the-counter brightening products are trending, but their effect is limited and temporary, and some could harm teeth.
Some of these purple toners are designed to replace your regular toothpaste. However, they don't contain fluoride, which can help protect your teeth from cavities, so using them regularly risks dental health.
Like purple shampoos, particles in the purple tooth toners counteract the yellow tones in your teeth, so they look a touch whiter—for a little while. Using purple toner occasionally won't cause any problems or give you any lasting improvements. We encourage patients not to expect too much when using purple toners and to watch out for stains on their bathroom basins and towels.
Can Yellow Teeth Become White Again?
Most teeth can be lightened, but let's examine this question more thoroughly. Skin and hair colour and the natural shade of teeth vary from person to person, so the whitening results also vary.
Tooth Shade Variations
Teeth whitening is more effective on teeth that are on the yellow and white spectrums. Teeth shades that contain brown and grey are more difficult to whiten and may require longer treatment or stronger whitening agents.
Results Vary
With various types of teeth whitening products, the results will vary from patient to patient and depend largely on the original colour of the teeth, their condition, the staining present and compliance with the teeth whitening regime!
Customised Treatment
Many people can lighten their teeth, no matter what shade they're starting from. However, some people will see results quickly, while others will need a stronger solution, more time or possibly other treatments to achieve their ideal outcome.
The Causes of Tooth Staining
Your teeth may appear darker due to their natural base shade or staining. As you age, your teeth will naturally darken and become more stained. Your lifestyle and diet impact the appearance and health of your teeth. Different types of staining need to be treated differently to get a whiter smile.
Discolouration can be caused by:
- Extrinsic Staining — This staining occurs on the surface of the enamel, such as nicotine staining.
- Intrinsic Staining — This staining goes deeper and is more challenging to shift. It could be due to medications, excessive fluoride consumption or genetic factors.
- Dental Decay or Trauma — In this case, your teeth may need treatment before whitening.
What's the Best Teeth Whitening Product?
Professional teeth whitening can provide the best and safest result for various smiles. The products one can buy at the chemist or over the internet tend to be very abrasive and contain a weak, ineffective concentration of peroxide (whitening agent). Sometimes, a person may need a more potent formula to achieve their desired whitening result.
Only registered dental practitioners in Australia can use the most effective, high-concentration whitening products (containing more than six per cent hydrogen peroxide). These products must be handled carefully to avoid burns and pain from mistreatment.
Teeth Whitening Treatment Options
Your teeth whitening treatment options at St George's Dental include:
- In-Chair Whitening — Your dentist will apply the bleaching agent in the clinic, and your teeth will lighten by up to two shades in a 75-minute appointment.
- Take-Home Whitening Kits — Custom-fitted bleaching trays are made for you to take home and wear with the whitening gel until you reach your desired shade. The duration of treatment varies, but many patients see results after a couple of weeks.
Right now, you can get an in-chair treatment at St George's Dental for $850 (this includes a take-home kit) or a take-home kit for $450!
I Can't Afford Professional Tooth Whitening. What Can I Do to Improve My Discoloured Teeth? 
- Be gentle when cleaning your teeth. Scrubbing will only damage your enamel and potentially expose more of the yellower underlayer (dentin).
- Improving your brushing technique and cleaning between your teeth with floss or interdental brushes will keep your smile healthy.
- Be aware that darker foods and drinks will tend to stain your teeth, so try to limit them and rinse your mouth with water or brush after consuming them.
- Regular professional cleaning will remove the hardened plaque (calculus), which can add to a yellowing appearance.
5 Reasons You Should See Your Dentist Before Whitening
- That stain or mark that's bothering you could be tooth decay. Ensuring your mouth is healthy and treating any problems before bleaching is essential.
- You may have restorations (fillings) that must change to match your new bright teeth.
- Your dentist can check which ones need replacement and provide a quote.
- Your dentist can advise you on the best techniques and products to achieve your ideal result. We use professional shade matching to measure whitening results more effectively.
- Whiten your teeth, not your calculus (tartar)! Get a professional clean before treatment to start with a clean slate and keep your mouth healthy.
We Offer Teeth Whitening in Lower Plenty, VIC
If you're keen to learn more, our friendly dentists at St George's Dental will be happy to discuss whitening treatments with you at your initial check-and-clean or your next six-monthly recall visit. Get a complimentary whitening consultation and complete examination and cleaning at the same time, and we can get your smile looking its best.
If you've been searching for 'teeth whitening near me', we welcome your call.