What Is the Best Age to Whiten Your Teeth?
What Is Teeth Whitening?
It is a cosmetic procedure involving various products and techniques to remove stains and discoloration from the teeth, resulting in a brighter and more attractive smile.
Different methods can whiten your teeth, including:
- In-office bleaching treatments – commonly called professional teeth whitening.
- Take-home whitening kits – include custom-fitted trays filled with a bleaching gel to be worn over teeth for a specified amount of time daily.
- Over-the-counter whitening products, such as toothpaste, strips, and gels
Which is The Best Approach for Whitening Teeth?
All dental experts agree that professional Teeth whitening in Baytown, TX, is the best treatment for brightening a smile. In-office bleaching treatments typically involve a strong bleaching gel to remove stains from teeth. Dentists activate the products to start bleaching teeth with a special light or laser.
Still, although professional teeth whitening is generally the safest and most effective solution for brightening teeth, it may not be suitable for everyone. The stakes are especially high for patients with existing dental issues such as cavities, gum disease, or sensitive teeth. Therefore, consult with a dental professional before undergoing any teeth whitening procedure.
Ideal Age to Whiten Your Teeth
Generally, isn’t really the “best” age to whiten teeth. Dentists in Baytown, TX, can administer teeth whitening treatments for patients of different ages as long as they have permanent teeth and good dental health.
What about Teeth Whitening in Younger Children?
It is worth noting that many dentists near you may be against teeth whitening for children under age 13. The primary reason is that the procedure may not be as safe for kids whose teeth are still developing. Further, their teeth are more porous than adult teeth, and their enamel is thinner. These factors make young kids more susceptible to damage from whitening products. Therefore, to avoid any potential harm to the developing teeth, dentists often require that patients be at least 13 years old.
Additionally, dentists will consider the fact that the effects of whitening agents on fetal and infant health are still being studied as a reason to restrict teeth whitening for some women. Therefore, do not be thrown off when your dentist recommends holding off on teeth whitening treatments during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
What To Do About Stains on Children’s Teeth
If your child is young and has bad stains on their teeth, does it mean no treatment can be done until they are older? At Kam Dental, we encourage patients to seek dental care for all oral concerns. Therefore, we have a provision for young children with stained teeth that do not necessarily entail enamel bleaching.
Stains on children’s teeth can have a variety of causes, ranging from poor dental hygiene to certain foods and drinks, medications, and even genetics. Some steps to address stains on children’s teeth are:
- Improve dental hygiene: Encourage your child to brush their teeth twice every day for at least two minutes and floss daily.
- Avoid certain staining foods and drinks, such as coffee, tea, soda, and candy: Encourage healthy eating at home while limiting sugary and acidic foods and drinks.
- Dental cleanings: Consider professional teeth cleaning in a dental clinic near you. Dentists recommend regular cleaning sessions once every 3 to 6 months. These cleanings are also a great way to motivate your child to maintain excellent oral hygiene at home.
- Cosmetic whitening approaches: Children’s dentists may recommend various treatments that can brighten teeth, such as topical fluoride, dental bonding, or dental veneers.
Conclusion
Prevention is key when it comes to stains on children’s teeth. Whatever healthy dental habits you can encourage your child to practice for good dental hygiene and a balanced diet at home will go a long way in sustaining a clean, healthy, and bright smile. Meanwhile, find new ways to build your child’s self-confidence that does not rely on their smile’s appearance. Since it may take a long before your child can officially start professional teeth whitening treatments, train them to focus on aspects of their health that are within their control.