How Often Should You Whiten Your Teeth?

We all want to look our absolute best and feel comfortable in our own skin, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that at all.

While we all have our own unique insecurities, many people out there tend to find that their teeth are making them particularly self-conscious for a whole host of reasons. Some people have uneven teeth, some people have chipped teeth, some people’s teeth may be rotten and decayed, and some may be stained and discoloured.

If you’re the latter and have found that your teeth are stained or discoloured, the good news is that you can whiten your teeth in a whole variety of different ways.

But how often should you whiten your teeth? Well, that’s what we intend to find out. Below, we’ll be looking at several causes for tooth staining and discolouration, along with a look at how often to get your teeth whitened.

Common causes for tooth staining or discolouration

In a perfect world, we’ll all have a set of even, healthy, pearly white teeth that look fantastic but sadly that’s not the case. Many people out there actually find that their teeth are stained or discoloured, and this can really take a toll on them mentally and harm their self-esteem.

Here’s a look at a few common reasons why teeth become stained or discoloured:

Poor oral hygiene

One of the most common reasons why people’s teeth become stained or discoloured is simply a lack of good oral hygiene.

Poor oral hygiene can lead to all manner of stains accumulating on the teeth, as plaque and other stain-causing substances are allowed to build up without being cleaned away.

A lack of regular brushing of the teeth, and flossing, is one of the leading causes of tooth staining.

Excess fluoride

As we’re talking about how frequently to whiten your teeth, you’d be forgiven for assuming that tooth staining and discolouration solely causes the teeth to turn yellow, brown, and even black. That’s not always the case however.

Excess fluoride, especially during childhood, can lead to a condition known as fluorosis, which can cause bright white and chalky patches to form on the teeth.

Smoking

If you needed yet another reason not to smoke, how about the fact that it stains your teeth?

Because of the tar and various other chemicals that are found in cigarettes, nearly all smokers have yellow/brown teeth.

Coffee

Coffee may be a delicious drink that helps to wake you up in the morning, but it also happens to be a beverage that stains the teeth.

Coffee drinkers find that drinking coffee on a daily basis can cause the teeth to become much darker in colour. Try to avoid any foods and drinks that stain your teeth.

Teeth whitening options

If you are wondering how often to whiten your teeth, first it is important to know your options regarding whitening in the first place.

As far as teeth whitening options go, you have the following:

At home teeth whitening

Teeth whitening kits and home whitening products are found all over social media nowadays, and are endorsed by all manner of Z-list reality TV stars and “influencers” but are they any good?

Well, in reality, the general consensus is that teeth whitening kits that you use at home aren’t very good. There are some that provide acceptable results, and they can help to lighten the teeth slightly, but for the money they’re generally not really worth it.

Professional teeth whitening by a dentist

Your second option when it comes to teeth whitening is in-office whitening (also known as chairside bleaching) carried out by a professional.

If you’re looking to have your teeth whitened, we strongly recommend that you have it performed by a professional.

Having your teeth whitened by a dentist means that you’re in safe hands, they’ve carried out the procedure multiple times in the past, they have access to the best equipment, tools, and solutions, and the results are long-lasting.