Teeth Whitening in Barrie
Teeth darken so gradually that the change is easy to miss until an old photo makes it obvious. At BL Dentistry in Barrie, Ontario, we offer professional teeth whitening with custom-made trays you use at home. The trays are made to fit your teeth, and they brighten the shade of your natural teeth without changing their shape.
Why Teeth Lose Their Colour
Surface Stains
These come from what you eat, drink, and smoke. Coffee, tea, red wine, cola, berries, and tobacco all carry pigments that settle into the tiny pores of the enamel. Over time those pigments build up and the teeth take on a yellow or brown cast. Surface staining is the type that responds best to whitening.
Deeper Discolouration
Some colour comes from inside the tooth. Enamel thins with age and lets more of the yellower dentin beneath show through. A tooth that was injured can turn grey. Certain medications taken while teeth were forming can leave bands of discolouration. These deeper shades still often lighten, but more slowly and less predictably than surface stains.
How Take-Home Whitening Works
We make custom trays that fit your teeth exactly. You fill them with a professional-grade whitening gel and wear them at home, following the instructions we give you. The active ingredient is peroxide. It passes into the enamel and breaks apart the pigment molecules responsible for staining, which makes the tooth reflect more light and look lighter. Nothing is removed from the surface of the tooth, and the tooth keeps its shape. Because the trays fit your teeth, the gel stays where it should, and you can whiten on your own schedule.
Start With a Cleaning
Whitening works best on clean teeth. A professional teeth cleaning beforehand clears away tartar and surface buildup, so the gel reaches the enamel evenly. It also gives an accurate starting shade, since some of what looks like discolouration is simply buildup that comes off at the cleaning.
The exam that goes with it matters too. Whitening gel on a cavity or an exposed root can be uncomfortable, so any decay or gum recession is best dealt with first.
Part of a Bigger Plan
For some patients, whitening is the whole goal. For others, it is the last step in a larger change. If you are also considering straightening your teeth, the usual approach is to finish alignment before whitening. Our cosmetic dentistry page explains how the two fit together, and the BL Dentistry home page gives an overview of everything the Barrie clinic offers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do whitening results last?
Results commonly last from several months to a few years. The biggest factor is habit: people who drink coffee, tea, or red wine every day see staining return sooner. Rinsing with water after dark drinks and keeping up regular cleanings help the shade hold longer.
Does whitening damage enamel?
Used as directed, peroxide-based whitening does not strip or thin the enamel. The most common side effect is temporary sensitivity to cold, which usually settles within a few days of treatment.
Why not just use a whitening toothpaste?
Whitening toothpastes mostly rely on mild abrasives that polish away new surface stains. They can keep teeth looking clean, but they do not change the underlying shade of the tooth. Professional whitening works on pigment inside the enamel, which is why the change is larger.
Will whitening work on grey or dark teeth?
Yellow and brown staining responds best. Grey discolouration, such as from certain medications or from a tooth darkened after an injury, tends to lighten less and more slowly. A single dark tooth may need a different approach from the rest of the smile.
What should I avoid right after whitening?
For the first 48 hours, teeth pick up stain more easily. During that window it helps to avoid coffee, tea, red wine, dark sauces, and tobacco, and to stick to lighter-coloured foods and drinks.