This is a most appropriate system for those having good dental health with no repaired or restored teeth, and good gums. Those having yellowish tints obtain better results.

We give you below some cases where this treatment is not appropriate:

• Age and pregnancy issues. Here whitening is not available for those under 16 years of age as the nerve of the teeth is large at this stage of life. It could render the nerve more sensitive or cause irritation. Pregnant or lactating women are also not advised to use this method.

• Sensitive teeth and allergies. Those having sensitive teeth or gums, with receding or defective repairs need to see their dentist before engaging a whitening process. Allergies to peroxide will definitely not be favored with a bleaching product

• Gum disease, damaged teeth, cavities, and exposed roots. People with damaged teeth or worn enamel are not advised to use any bleaching method. A bleaching agent might enter any cavity and cause an inside damage. Hence it is necessary to treat such defects before launching into a whitening session. Bleaching does not work on roots also since they do not have the enamel layer on which bleaching acts.

• Fillings, crowns and restored portions. Dental restorations sometimes make use of colored fillings or resign based products (crowns, veneers, bridges) and these do not whiten with bleaching. So an unequal whitening pattern may appear if bleaching is applied under these conditions. It is better to proceed with whitening before attempting any restoration exercise on the teeth. Your dentist is the best person to advise on the method of treatment applicable in such cases, and confirming whether any importance is to be given to the bleaching or restoration exercise.

• Those expecting dramatic happenings may be disappointed with results below their expectations. People using harmful products like tobacco and wine need to be aware that the result may not stay for longer periods if they do not avoid such products. A more balanced expectation taking into consideration one’s own lifestyle and hygiene pattern would give a more objective approach to the results’ appreciation. A good standard indication is comparison of color of your teeth should be a little whiter than that of your eyes.

• Heavily stained teeth. A light yellowish tint will definitely disappear under bleaching, less effective results would appear on brown tinted ones where as grayish or purple stained ones may not reveal any effect. Certain blue-gray stain which are normally caused by tetracycline take even more time to whiten and require around 6 month of intensive care at the dentist’s. Darker stains may be appropriately treated by other methods, for example: veneers, crowns, bonding, etc. Your dentist can give you precious advice on this.