Before getting your teeth whitened, do your homework

[Sunny]

Before getting your teeth whitened, do your homework

Nearly all adults believe a person's smile is an important social asset, that it makes a person more appealing to the opposite sex and that a person's smile can even help or hinder a career, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

It's no wonder, then, that people are flocking to dentists' offices in searching of brighter pearly whites. Advancements in cosmetic dentistry have made it possible for people to brighten their teeth by several shades, removing stains left by coffee, tea, colas, wine, smoking and even natural discoloration that comes with age.

Treatments and costs vary, so it's important to do your homework and have a discussion with your dentist about whether whitening — and in what form — is right for you.

[mariahfromchicago]

Interesting. I might consider it, hopefully 14 is old enough to get teeth whitened...

[Sunny]

I'm not sure of the age limits in your area Mariah, but professionally run whitening offices in the areas I've worked, will not provide this service to people under the age of 18.

The reason ... mostly that the person needing whitening, are doing it because they've been eating and drinking many staining foods, or their teeth have stained due to medical reasons. Bleaching is painful due to the sensitivity caused and good whitening is expensive and the costs are ongoing. Also legal documents need to be signed by people who are 18 years or older.

[mariahfromchicago]

Well thank goodness for OTC teeth whitening. Well, it's not like my teeth are really yellow. I'll see, I will need to wait another year for these to finally be removed...

[eatyourpeas]

I whitened mine (at home) and it wasn't painful AT ALL!!!

Yellow teeth are not always caused by staining. Some people (my husband being one) were just born with yellower teeth. He's always had yellower teeth than others. In all of his school pix he's got a grim set of choppers. Today, "normal" colored teeth are seen as yellow, so whitening seems to be a necessity to many just to keep up.

He used Crest white strips as I did and he's got a brighter smile. Mine are gorgous and neither of us had any pain. Though, I do agree, that some do.

[mariahfromchicago]

Well, it is different (whether it hurts or not) because we are all different, so hopefully (if I get my teeth whitened) it won't hurt a lot.

[Zoso]

The AAPD does not rule out bleaching for adolescents (although it does strongly discourage it for children who still have mixed dentition). Their policy can be viewed here: http://www.aapd.org/media/Policies_G..._Bleaching.pdf Whether a dentist would perform bleaching for a teenager would be up to each individual practice to decide.