Have you ever wondered if you might be a candidate for teeth whitening? You may think that your teeth are so stained that help is not possible, but you are probably wrong. Practically anyone can be a candidate for teeth whitening, and almost anyone who has the treatment will find that their teeth are much more beautiful afterward.

Good Candidates for teeth whitening

Those who are willing to eliminate foods that stain the teeth for at least the duration of the whitening treatments are the best candidates. These foods include coffee, tea, red wine and dark berries. Beverages stain the teeth less if drunk through a straw. Smoking also stains the teeth. Even if you don’t follow the ideal guidelines with regards to foods and smoke that stains the teeth, you will likely still get enough improvement to make it worthwhile. Most people are happy with the results after about 2 weeks of whitening treatments. Good candidates for teeth whitening are those who are willing to place the gel in the custom made thin rubber trays and wear them for 30 min to overnight approximately every 24 hours. We have 3 different protocols for whitening depending on the sensitivity of your teeth and your preferences.

Different Types of Stains

If you have stains that are just on the surface of your teeth, then you are a better candidate for teeth whitening than someone who has discoloration below the enamel. Having said that, though, you can still be a good candidate for teeth whitening. You might need more treatments than someone who just had surface stains, though. In general, brown or yellow teeth are easier to whiten than gray or brown teeth. We have seen amazing results with deep whitening protocols involving up to 8 weeks of treatment. Even if you have tried whitening before, you will likely have success with deep whitening.

Could I Not Be a Candidate for Teeth Whitening?

It is unlikely. But if your teeth are extremely sensitive, teeth whitening might be ill-advised. Also, if you have had many dental restorations, whitening treatments will deliver less than stellar results – your natural teeth will respond to teeth whitening treatments, but your restorations will not. If you have not yet had restorations done, make sure to have your whitening treatments first, because once your restorations are created, there is no way to change the color.

Contact Us

At the practice of Dr. Stefanie Shore we can help you to determine if you are a good candidate for teeth whitening. Call us at 916-966-5269, or use the form on our Contact Us page to arrange a consultation. We are located at 6660 Coyle Ave #240 Carmichael, CA 95608, and would be happy to see you for a whitening treatment.