How Old Do You Recommend Teeth Whitening? (photo)

We have done whitening (both tray based and Zoom) on many teenagers. Sixteen is fine and works well. Check with your dentist about anything that might prevent you - medications, cavities, gum issues - and do it.

Hi there!  With respect to your question of how old does a patient have to be to get whitening on their teeth, it would be up to the individual dentist.  If the patient is 16 and up in our office, we allow whitening as long as we deem the patient a candidate, and they must have parental consent since they are still considered a minor.  I am very surprised that your dentist would recommend that you drink soda to stain the other teeth so they match your existing teeth, especially since many flipper materials will not stain, and also because soda is not good for your teeth/health in general.  The first thing you most likely should do since you just got your braces off, is to have a good teeth cleaning to remove any excess plaque or debris that was left from the braces.  Then, find a cosmetic dentist who can evaluate your teeth to see if you would be a candidate for whitening so they can get everything to match.  Keep in mind, most offices will require that you have a parent or guardian with you to consent to whitening.  Good luck!

That's a good question.  Teeth are usually fully formed by 13 years of age.  To be on the safe side we perform teeth whitening for clients who are 14 years of age or older.  At 16, it should be perfectly safe for you to have teeth whitening performed.  You can use a take home method or a professional in office whitening such as the Zoom whitening treatment. Good Luck!