I started drinking black coffee at the age of twelve. An unusual liking for one so young, no doubt, but what can I say? I love coffee! Since then, I’ve come to enjoy a little milk in my daily three cups, but even still, this twenty-year, much loved addiction has obviously done a number on my teeth. My natural shade of white has been replaced with a tone that suggests a serious coffee habit. Deciding it was finally time to do something to brighten up my smile, I spoke to Dr. Nargiz Schmidt of Smile in the City Dental Group, a prominent Manhattan specialty dental office, with my questions about tooth whitening.

What is the difference between over the counter whitening products and the whitening done in dental offices?

According to Dr. Schmidt, whitening done in a dental office uses a higher potency whitening product. Over the counter bleaching products also contain peroxide based agents, although in a milder form. When done professionally, patients can get dramatic results done safely and effectively. For instance, it is very important to avoid excessive contact with the gums when bleaching. If a person is using an over the counter product, he can irritate the gums which may cause some pain, if he is not careful to avoid the gum line. With in-office bleaching, a product is applied to the gum line, which covers and protects it during the application of the whitening product.

Does an over the counter mouth rinse that claims to offer whiter teeth actually work

The very simple answer is that if a product (rinse, gum, etc.) does not have enough contact with the teeth directly, then no, it will not have an effect that will result in whiter teeth. You will still get other benefits such as anti-bacterial agents, resulting in better breath, but not necessarily whiter teeth.

Is there any way to cause damage by whitening teeth?

No, the process of whitening is completely safe to the tooth structure. Dr. Schmidt explains that what happens during whitening is that the peroxide based agent applied to the teeth oxides resulting in the removal of stains.

What happens during a whitening session in the Dentist’s office?

Typically, the whitening session lasts about an hour. During that time, the gums will be applied with a soft layer of gel coating to cover them during the whitening application. The teeth will be dried and the whitening product will be applied using a tiny brush to cover each tooth. Patients will sit with the product on the tooth for approximately 15 minutes. Dr. Schmidt uses a light that accelerates the process and gives greater results. After the 15 minutes, the teeth will be cleaned and a second and then a third application are completed. When the procedure is finished, the patient’s teeth will look about ten shades lighter than they did when they came in.

What should people be aware of before considering making a whitening appointment?

Some people experience a lot of sensitivity in their teeth. These people might have heightened sensitivity following a whitening session. This normally lasts through the day of the whitening and is usually gone by the next day. Dr. Schmidt recommends using a toothpaste for sensitivity, such as Sensodyne, if this is the case.

Also, whitening works best on patients who have discoloration that is more on the yellow side, due to coffee, soda, and/or nicotine staining rather than on patients who have teeth that appear grayish in tone. Gray teeth can be the result of Tetracycline staining or genetics. These patients unfortunately do not get the best results from a whitening session.

If people don’t get the results that they are looking for from whitening, for instance if they have grey toned teeth, is there anything that can be done for them?

Yes of course. With modern dentistry, there’s no reason why people should not be able to have a beautiful, white smile. Many people opt to have aesthetic restorations placed over their natural teeth to achieve a permanent result. Restorations such as crowns, veneers or lumineers are made in a lab using ceramic porcelain which can be custom made in the color a patient is seeking. In fact, many celebrities have restorations, which is why their teeth appear so white in photos and on television. Unfortunately, restorations come with a pretty hefty price tag, which put them out of reach for many.

There is another option that many dentists, including Dr. Schmidt, offer if patients don’t want to make such a financial commitment. They use a product called Bleach-Free whitening, which is a white colored sealant that is painted on to each tooth for a long-lasting result. This can be an excellent option for patients who are too sensitive for traditional whitening, or don’t get great results.

Armed with all of this knowledge, I tried the professional tooth whitening at Smile in the City and got amazing results! But my beautiful new smile came with a downside – I had to give up coffee for at least the next few days in order to get the best results!