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At-home teeth whitening kits can give you a stain-free, bright smile. And when combined with tooth bonding, which can conceal other issues, it can give you an attractive grin, boosting your confidence and more. However, after a few years or so, what happens when you see some stain build-up and feel like touching up your teeth? Can you perform an at-home whitening kit? And more so, how will your bonding react?
Whitening bonded teeth is a bit tricky. Here’s everything you need to know.
The Dilemma of Whitening Bonded Teeth
Dental bonding has many benefits. It can conceal and correct issues like a chipped or cracked tooth, preventing it from worsening. Bonding can also repair imperfections that make you self-conscious, such as crooked teeth. However, when it comes to bonded teeth, there is one major disadvantage: staining.
Tooth bonding is designed to last three to 10 years, which is a considerable amount of time. And during that time, your natural teeth will stain much faster than the composite resin of bonding material, resulting in different shades. And it’s these mismatched chompers and teeth that many people find unsightly. Where whitening kits and toothpaste can do wonders for your natural enamel, it may cause the mismatched, patchy spots to become more prominent on bonding resin, which is why GO SMILE is here to clear some things up.
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Can You Whiten Bonded Teeth?
As mentioned, the composite resin is a common and popular bonding material treatment. In most cases, whitening treatments are ineffective. Unlike the absorbing, porous nature of the enamel on our natural teeth, bonding materials are more solid, causing stains (and whitening solutions) to rest on the surface.
In other words, using a whitening kit on both bonded and natural teeth will result in only your natural teeth lightening. Technically, whitening bonded teeth is not a possibility. But there are other ways around it.
Whitening Bonded Teeth Properly
So, what is the best way to prevent stained natural teeth and that splotchy discoloration? While whitening bonded teeth is possible, it takes some extra steps. Namely, removing or replacing your bonding. Removing any bonding on teeth before you whiten them will ensure your natural teeth and bonding have a more exact match. And after you achieve the shade of white you desire, the bonding can be reapplied after one to two weeks.
However, if you choose to go through the trouble of these extra steps, you’ll want to keep your new bright smile splotch-free. Here are a few ways to do so.
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Good oral hygiene is the best way to keep your natural teeth and bonded teeth as pearly white as possible – period! Brushing at least twice per day and flossing can keep stains away. Of course, use a whitening toothbrush with a bacteria-killing Blue Light device to get a healthy, bright smile, too. Don’t forget to schedule a visit to your dentist twice each year for a professional cleaning.
Steer Clear of Staining and Acidic Foods
Try to avoid certain foods and drinks that cause stains or are highly acidic. Coffee, red wines and even tea can stain your natural teeth, creating splotching. And soda is highly corrosive to the enamel. Also, make sure that the drinks and foods you consume are free of artificial dyes, such as Red-40 and Blue Lake-5.
If you still need that caffeine boost in the morning or to wind down in the evening, use a straw to bypass your teeth. Of course, you can also maintain your smile and remove stains even during busy days with a Glow on the Go blue light device or a teeth whitening pen.
Stop Smoking
Smoking has countless harmful effects on your health. But when it comes to your teeth, smoking can cause them to turn yellow or even give them an unhealthy gray undertone. Whitening bonded teeth and natural teeth can easily be achieved when you choose to quit smoking.
Interested in Whitening Your Bonded Teeth?
Whitening bonded teeth might take a few extra steps, like removing or replacing the bonding material, but in the end, it will give you the smile you’ve always wanted. Not only does the bonding cover up any tooth deformities or chips, but by whitening your natural teeth, too, you can achieve a bright set of chompers to give you the confidence you need.
