Should Teenagers Whiten Their Teeth?

Posted on 12/23/2021 by Fariba Mutschler

Teens today have particular concerns about their appearance. After all, they take plenty of selfies and want to look their best, whether at school or communicating on social media. As a result, they like the idea of a whiter and brighter smile.

The Best Age to Seek Whitening Services

Typically, a teen should use whitening products. or undergo whitening procedures when they are at least 14 years old. Before that time, the tooth's pulp is typically not fully developed, leading to increased sensitivity. Once a teen is older, they should ask our advice on what teeth whitening products to use. It is best to have an in-office whitening performed in most cases, as we can closely monitor the process. We use a custom-made bleaching tray that we fit onto the patient's teeth while keeping track of the whitening amount used. Without proper professional supervision, a teen can experience problems, such as gum and tooth sensitivity or damage to dental work, such as fillings or crowns.

Whitening Options

You can bleach or whiten your teeth in our office or at home. However, as noted, it usually is better to have professional help. You may also consider the use of whitening toothpastes. This type of dentifrice removes surface stains but will not change the intrinsic color of the teeth.

Preventing Problems with Tooth Stains

To prevent tooth stains problems, you should avoid nicotine, which is known to stain teeth and rinse your mouth after drinking cola or coffee. Brush your teeth carefully, particularly if you wear braces. Food can get stuck between the teeth and braces, which leads to decay and stains.

Not all dental plans cover in-office teeth whitening, so you should check about this first before choosing to whiten your teeth or a parent who has a teen who wants to undergo the treatment. Give us a call today to book an appointment for a professional cleaning in the meantime.

My daughter was a little nervous to have her dental work done but everyone in the office was super friendly and very reassuring and that helped her nervousness go away. Thanks for the excellent dental experience. ~ Lilyana G.

Get in Touch!

PHONE
(971) 470-0054

Email
portland@greatgrins.net

Request
Appointment

Our Dental Blog | Great Grins Pediatric Dentistry - Portland, OR
Dr. Fariba Mutschler & Dr. Mark Mutschler have created this informative blog to help educate the community. If you like an article or the dental blog in general please use the share it button to post to Facebook, Twitter, or Google+.
Great Grins for KIDS Portland, 13908 SE Stark Street, Ste C, Portland, OR 97233-2161, (971) 470-0054, portlandchildrensdentist.com, 10/3/2024, Page Phrases: pediatric dentist Portland,