When your pearly-whites aren’t looking so white anymore, it’s hard not to be self-conscious of your smile. Even celebrities like Victoria Beckham are notorious for hiding their grin because of self-consciousness.

Teeth whitening has become one of the only solutions for this problem, and its growing accessibility has made it an appealing option. Dr. Lowell Shore of Scotia Dental in Halifax breaks down the basics of teeth whitening.

The process begins when each patient gets fitted for custom whitening trays. These are created by making impressions of the teeth and “doing some lab work,” says Shore. Then, there’s the choice of whitening gel. On average, gels are meant for overnight use, 24 hours or 15-minute intervals. “Depending on patient’s tooth sensitivity, I will adjust the whitening gel strength,” Shore says. After showing a patient how to use their whitening trays, Shore will then show them the initial shade of their teeth, so that they can assess the improvement of the colour of their smile. This usually occurs after two to three weeks when the patient returns for a check-up.

On average, patients are looking at improving the colour of their teeth by about five to six shades. Shore says it is also important to note that teeth either have a yellowish or a greyish tint naturally. While teeth with a yellow tint often take to the whitening gels better, teeth with a grey tint can get effective whitening as well. “It just takes longer,” says Dr. Shore.

Another option for teeth whitening is “zoom” whitening. Usually taking just one appointment lasting a few hours, it is a convenient alternative to a whitening tray. However, Dr. Shore doesn’t advise using it unless it is necessary. “We only use [zoom whitening] sometimes,” says Dr. Shore. “With any bleaching, there is the risk of causing tooth sensitivity. However, since zoom is more concentrated, you run the risk of burning your gums.”

Zoom whitening is still a good head start to getting the white smile you desire. This treatment is ideal for anyone who needs a quick fix. “Brides nearing their wedding day usually request zoom, because it’s an emergency,” says Shore. “You may still probably want to do something with trays.”

All whitening treatments are not permanent. “Patients still need to come in and get touch-ups,” says Shore. That’s another reason why it pays to look at other options before doing zoom whitening. “Because there are more risks involved with zoom and touch-ups are required anyway, I prefer to just use the trays,” says Shore.

Although there are many whitening options available, Dr. Shore’s best advice for keeping teeth white is “staying away from food and drinks like wine and coffee that can stain teeth” — but only when it can be avoided, of course. •