Do you have discolored teeth that cause you to feel self-conscious when you smile? You may be considering the possibilities of teeth whitening to make your smile radiant and bright. Before rushing out and getting a kit to whiten your teeth, you need to know about some potential mistakes that you should avoid making.

Whitening Teeth That Are Unhealthy

If you have teeth that are not healthy, and you whiten them, it can make your teeth worse. When you have teeth that are decaying or have damaged enamel, the chemicals in teeth whitening products can potentially cause you pain. Whitening can also cause the imperfections on your teeth to stand out, such as teeth that had root canals and are notably darker than the surrounding teeth. Teeth whitening won't fix the health of your teeth, so don't have it done if you have any reason to suspect the discoloration is due to a health issue.

Using Natural Teeth Whitening Methods

You may have heard about ways to naturally whiten your teeth. These methods can include crazy things such as using banana peels or rubbing the enamel with charcoal. Understand that those methods may be completely ineffective at whitening your teeth and waste your time in the process. 

Bleaching products have been approved by the American Dental Association and are not only safe to use, but also effective. The ADA also recommends that you consult your dentist before using teeth whitening products.

Using The Cheapest Solution

Home whitening kits can be quite expensive, and the result may be teeth that are a shade or two whiter and not much different from where they were before. If you need major whitening performed on your teeth, don't make the mistake of using the cheapest solution available only to get professional whitening done later.

You will never get professional results using whitening strips, and professional whitening may be your only option for the look you want.

Overdoing The Whitening Process

Be aware that whitening your teeth can be addicting to people. Teeth whitening is not permanent, and teeth will start to turn yellow when you fall back on habits like drinking coffee or smoking. It's tempting to whiten your teeth again when you feel that they don't look as white as they used to.

Remember that the whitening process will wear down the enamel on your teeth. If you feel like your teeth have lost the gleaming white look they once had, consult your dentist before performing any whitening procedure. It is the best way to ensure that you will have teeth that are healthy and white. 

For a dentist in your area, contact a dentist such as George S Cochran DDS.