Can Teeth Be Safely Whitened After Braces Come Off?

Teeth whitening after braces is a very popular service in my practice. Once your braces are removed, it's ok to start whitening. There is probably a lower incidence of side effects with dentist office whitening products vs. over the counter ones because office patients are screened first and monitored, and treatments are customized to each person.

Rather than heading to the local cosmetic counter or shopping mall in search of teeth whiteners, start with a dental check up.This way, it can be diagnosed  the cause of discoloration—injury, stains from food or tobacco antibiotic treatment and so on. Whitening products only work on natural tooth enamel, not on crowns, veneers, bonding materials or tooth colored fillings.Does this mean if you have any of the above mentioned conditions you are stuck with yellow teeth? Absolutely not! The diagnosis is important; from there, it can be determined  whether whitening will work for you and which product will suit you best; otherwise you could be wasting time and money! Studies have shown the first thing a person notices when they meet you is your smile. Being a cosmetic dentist I am aware of how desirable it is to have white, bright teeth and how it impacts your confidence, well being, and your entire life. By seeing a trained cosmetic dentist, you can achieve not only a whiter, more attractive smile, but one that is healthy and contributes to your overall health.

Tooth whitening is common practice and especially after braces.  However, in children I do not bleach their teeth.  Usually after 17 or 18 years old I will proceed with bleaching.  There are too many potential complications with bleaching childrens teeth.  Parents have the choice to use over the counter bleaching products but at their own risk.  Much can be accomplished with bleaching and a new smile created!  It is a wonderful service to have and not expensive for the patient.