Many people aspire to have pearly white teeth that they can proudly show off to the world when they smile. White teeth are attractive and often indicate great dental health. As a result, some patients look into professional teeth whitening to help them achieve their dream smile. But other patients are worried that teeth whitening services can make their teeth appear too white and, as a result, unrealistic. 

In our latest blog post, top dentist — Downtown Pittsburgh based Dental & Aesthetics of Pittsburgh — examines how white is “too white” for your teeth. 

Teeth Whitening Options

It’s Important to Explore All of Your Options for Teeth Whitening

There are numerous teeth whitening solutions available on the market. However, they are not all equal in their effectiveness. 

While some healthy habits, such as brushing your teeth with baking soda or eating crunchy vegetables can help clean up your teeth, they won’t produce the same results as a professional whitening procedure will. Unless you are getting veneers or undergoing a whitening procedure with your dentist, you won’t have to worry about whitening your teeth too much. This is because you can’t make your teeth any whiter than their natural shade without placing veneers over your teeth. However, you can over whiten your teeth if you try to shade them too lightly. 

Natural Home Remedies

Natural home remedies such as scrubbing one’s teeth in charcoal or swirling extra-virgin coconut oil around in the mouth have grown in popularity over the years. Many followers of these practices claim that their teeth have significantly whitened after using them. 

However, there are not enough scientific studies to support these claims at the moment and most of the current evidence is anecdotal. Luckily, many of these natural home remedies are pretty safe to follow. Therefore, there is little harm in trying them to see how well they work for your teeth. 

Teeth Whitening Strips

Teeth whitening strips are also a source of contention in the dental community. While some patients report positive results with their strips, others complain that they have noticed little to no change in their teeth. The effectiveness of these strips typically depends on the ingredients contained in them as well as how closely they fit the teeth. 

Professional Whitening Treatment

Many people choose to undergo a tooth whitening procedure with their dentist. During the procedure, their dentist will remove any tooth enamel discolorations that have resulted from staining, aging, or chemical damage using whiteners containing around 35% to 45% peroxide. The appointment usually lasts around an hour. 

Veneers

Some people struggling with smile insecurities receive veneers to fix their dental issues. These thin, custom-made shells are designed to cover the front of the teeth. Patients should be careful when choosing the color of their veneers, as placing them is usually an irreversible process. 

How to Find a Shade That Properly Matches Your Natural Smile

Top Dentist, Downtown Pittsburgh Based Dental & Aesthetics of Pittsburgh, Helps You Achieve a Natural-Looking Smile

Patients are often faced with two, distinct dilemmas when attempting to whiten their teeth. On the one hand, teeth that are too white can look unnatural. In fact, natural teeth are never purely white. That’s why some tooth whitening results end up looking synthetic or strange. But teeth that haven’t whitened enough might not display a dramatic change in your end results. 

Patients who use take-home kits typically don’t experience the former problem. But since take-home kits aren’t as effective as professional dental treatments, patients do not usually get the results they were hoping for. In order to achieve the results they want, most patients turn to professional teeth whitening treatments or even veneers. 

How to Find the Right Shade of White for Your Teeth

At a dentist, you can actually choose the specific shade you want for your teeth. The general rule of thumb is that you should choose a shade that matches the natural whites of your eyes. Teeth that appear whiter than the shade of your eyes often end up looking unnatural. 

Tooth color is divided into four different ranges of shade:

• Shade A — red/brown
• Shade B — red/yellow
• Shade C — grey
• Shade D — red/grey

When picking a range of shade, your dentist will help you find one that best matches the shade of your teeth. While most teeth whitening procedures can make your teeth up to 8 times whiter than they once were, this doesn’t mean that you necessarily need to make them that white. To achieve a more subtle look, try aiming for shades two or three times lighter than your current tooth color. Remember that it is easier to add whiteness to your teeth in subsequent treatments rather than take it away if you feel your teeth look too white. 

Are you ready to finally sport gorgeous, pearl-white teeth? Contact Dental & Aesthetics of Pittsburgh today to schedule a consultation. Whether you want to try a regular tooth whitening procedure or receive veneers, our professional staff is here to help you.