The Benefits of Teeth Whitening on Your Smile and Interactions

Believe it or not, teeth whitening can actually play an important role in how you interact with people socially, especially in the context of first meetings. The reality of human interaction in a first meeting is that we all rush to judgments, often based on a person's appearance and the way they carry themselves. We are drawn to attractive, confident people, which is where using teeth whitening to enhance your smile can actually make a difference in how you are perceived. Fifty-two percent of people believe that they would smile more if they had a better-looking smile, and of those, 26 percent believe that they could improve their smile by taking the time to schedule regular dentist visits. This idea of a smile making a difference on how you are perceived is based on scientific study and research. For example, it was found that an amazing 89 percent of the population believes that a great smile improves a person's attractiveness and approachability. In situations like a job interview, when you want to both make a great first impression and also leave a lasting one, having a bright white smile can be the first tool you use. Fifty-three percent of all human beings notice a person's smile first, and considering that first impressions are often made in the first seven to 15 seconds of contact, having your teeth whitening done professionally for a brighter smile could be the difference you need.

Since teeth whitening is one of those solutions that is easier than most and can have an almost immediate effect on your smile, it has grown into a very popular means of smile enhancement. Today, when you decide to do teeth whitening, you have one of three choices. You can get a do-it-yourself kit for home at the local pharmacy; you can come in to see the dentist and get prescribed or recommended a kit to use under our supervision, but also at home; or you can come in and have us take care of the entire teeth whitening process under medical supervision and in the comfortable environment of our clinic. For all of these cases, you will need to come in and see your dentist before you proceed with the teeth whitening to ensure that you have no minor problems that could cause distress or major challenges that may preclude you from successfully whitening your teeth. While rare, there are a few instances when teeth whitening may not be the best option for a patient, which is something we will explore with you during your examination.

Among reasons why you may not be able to get your teeth whitening done, the most frequently occurring one is people who have already had dental work done, with a fabrication placed. This includes people with dental veneers, dental bonding, or dental crowns. The reason why this makes it impossible to whiten your teeth is the synthetic material in these fabrications cannot be bleached, so in the event that you are determined to whiten, you will need to replace these as well. Often, we will suggest alternatives to teeth whitening, like veneers, in a case like this.