How can I tell if I should whiten my teeth?

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How can I tell if I should whiten my teeth?

If you’re thinking about investing in professional teeth whitening, here are some tips from our Langley dentists on how to tell if it would be right for you.

While the degree of whiteness that's most attractive is subjective, there are a few ways you can go about deciding if you would benefit from teeth whitening. Ultimately, the only person whose opinion on the subject matters is you.


Do you smile confidently and openly at people, or in pictures?

If you think your teeth look dingy or discoloured, you might find that you're trying to hide them, and that you're not smiling as openly as you’d like to.

If that sounds like you, teeth whitening might help you feel more confident.


A great way to determine how white your teeth should be is by comparing them to the shade of the whites of your eyes. If your teeth are a similar shade of white to the whites of your eyes then you probably don’t want to make them any whiter. Overly white teeth can look artificial.

However, if you find that your teeth are significantly darker than the whites of your eyes, teeth whitening may be a good choice for you.

Have you undergone dental restorations or orthodontic treatment?

If you've undergone dental restorations, or plan to, teeth whitening could be a good idea for you. In order to achieve an even smile the shade of your natural teeth should match that of your restorations as closely as possible. Having your teeth whitened can help with this.

If you have had braces in the past, you may discover that the areas on your teeth where the brackets were attached are somewhat lighter than the rest of the teeth. This could make your teeth appear uneven or patchy. Teeth whitening can help to significantly reduce this effect.

What does your dentist think?


If you are considering getting your teeth whitened, please feel free to get in touch with our Langley dental office to book an appointment with one of our dentists.
