Light but real is best. Never whiter than the whites of...

Light but real is best. Never whiter than the whites of the eyes.

TV and celebrities have made the super white look very much in demand. I think, though, that for most people this is much too white. Your dentist has shade guides that can show you the best color for you.

It is important to also consider the type of stains on your teeth. Dark or grey stains are harder to whiten and special care must be taken. Yellow or brown stains are easier to whiten and bring to a brighter shade. White spots are often caused by taking in too much fluoride; we can blend in these spots through teeth whitening but we need to monitor the whitening process.

Keep in mind that crowns (caps), veneers, bridges and fillings do not whiten. If you have these, especially in the “smile zone”, on the teeth people see when you smile, you need to work with your dentist to make sure you approach whitening the right way. A restoration that blends in today will stay the same color when you whiten the rest of your teeth and will stick out as discolored after bleaching.

The whiteness teeth can achieve varies by their inherent color.

• Really dark or stained teeth cannot be significantly whitened
• Yellowish teeth can be made whiter
• Normally white teeth can be significantly whitened

However, consistent or over-bleaching can yield an unnatural bluish hue. I have seen too many cases of over-bleached teeth that looked and were unhealthy.