One of the first things others notice about you is the quality of your grin, and if you have a momentous occasion coming up, it’s only natural to want to look your best. Unfortunately, if your teeth appear more yellow or brown than pearly white, you might feel too self-conscious to smile authentically.
Thankfully, your dentist provides professional teeth whitening to enhance your appearance. However, you may want to contact them sooner rather than later, because some patients require multiple sessions to achieve your goal. Continue reading to learn about 3 factors that can impact the number of necessary treatments!
Factor #1: The Type of Discoloration
Would you be surprised to learn that there are different types of dental blemishes? For instance, extrinsic stains can be caused by consuming too many darkly pigmented foods and drinks. Meanwhile, intrinsic discoloration in the lower layer of dentin can occur due to genetics, prescription medications, and other concerns. Your teeth might also look darker if your enamel has thinned too much, allowing the underlying dentin to show through.
Typically, surface stains in your enamel respond better to topical bleaches and, therefore, require fewer whitening applications than deeper-seated intrinsic flaws. Your dentist can let you know what type of discoloration is present and recommend an appropriate solution after your examination.
Factor #2: The Severity of Your Condition
The current condition of your smile can also potentially impact how much whitening you’ll need to achieve the perfect shade. For example, if your teeth are more severely mottled or have deeper brown tones, you’re more likely to require multiple applications to lighten them sufficiently.
Meanwhile, someone with slightly off-white enamel will probably have better luck achieving the ideal hue with just one or two sessions.
Factor #3: Your Oral Hygiene Habits
How well you care for your teeth and gums can also impact the number of applications required to produce the desired results. For example, if you frequently consume problematic foods, like coffee, tea, wine, tomatoes, or berries, you can easily cause additional discoloration that requires treatment.
Thankfully, you can preserve a lighter hue by brushing and flossing twice daily to remove harmful plaque and bacteria buildup that gives darkly pigmented particles something to cling to.
If you have additional questions about the status of your smile or how many applications of whitening you’ll need to improve your appearance, your dentist can provide the answers you seek during your consultation!
Meet the Author
Dr. Terri Alani has over three full decades of experience helping people in Houston build and maintain the healthiest, most beautiful versions of their smiles. She earned her Doctorate of Dental Surgery from the University of Texas, Houston, and today, offers a variety of restorative, preventive, and aesthetic procedures to address dental flaws conveniently under one roof. She’s renowned for her expertise in cosmetic services and has been featured on radio and television programs as a consultant and advisor. You can request an appointment on the website or by calling (713) 621-5141.