What causes some people’s teeth to whiten well and others not so much?

Professional teeth whitening is one of the most effective procedures to whiten or brighten discolored teeth. Also referred to as teeth bleaching, the procedure removes years of accumulated stains from smoking, drinking wine, coffee, tea, eating chocolates, etc. However, the teeth whitening process doesn’t work for everyone equally — it works better for some than others. This article aims to highlight the factors that influence the overall success of your teeth whitening procedure.

1. Grayish and brownish teeth don’t whiten as well as yellowish teeth.

The teeth whitening procedure bleaches your teeth to remove discoloration and stains from your enamel. It doesn’t provide a new color to your teeth but rather restores their original color. As such, your teeth’s original color is one of the most crucial factors in determining the procedure’s effectiveness. The teeth whitening procedure works best for people with yellowish teeth, a sign of surface discoloration from food/beverage stains. Your teeth won’t brighten significantly if you have grayish teeth due to antibiotic tetracycline, or brownish teeth due to overexposure to fluoride. People with brownish and grayish teeth will need multiple teeth whitening procedures to see desirable results.

2. The teeth whitening procedure isn’t effective on teeth with plaque and bacterial deposits.

The efficacy of the teeth whitening procedure also depends on whether you have cavities or plaque buildup. If your teeth have significant bacterial and plaque deposits during the whitening procedure, the final results won’t be as effective and bright as people with perfectly healthy teeth. You should opt for a teeth cleaning session before the teeth whitening. If your dentist identifies any potential problems, such as cavities, you should get them filled before the teeth whitening treatment.

3. The surface quality of your teeth influences the results.

The teeth whitening procedure works on natural teeth enamel rather than artificial teeth replacements, such as dental crowns and veneers. Furthermore, teeth whitening works best on thinner surfaces compared to teeth with thicker calcium deposits because the whitening gel is easily absorbed by thin surfaces.

4. Your lifestyle habits determine the treatment’s longevity.

Even after the teeth whitening, some people maintain their results for a longer duration than others. The overall longevity of your teeth whitening results depends on your lifestyle habits. If you smoke, drink, or consume tea, wine, chocolates, etc., you’re less likely to maintain the treatment results for an extended period.