Whiter smile
A whiter smile usually combines stain control, professional cleaning, and bleaching selected to the colour of your natural teeth.
How can stain control and bleaching create a whiter smile?
A whiter smile usually combines stain control, professional cleaning, and bleaching selected to the colour of your natural teeth.
What determines tooth colour and surface staining?
Tooth colour comes from enamel translucency and dentine beneath it, while coffee, tea, tobacco, plaque, and calculus add surface stain. Whitening changes natural tooth colour but not most restorations. A dentist first checks for decay, erosion, cracks, gum recession, and mismatched fillings. Cleaning removes calculus and external stain; peroxide whitening acts within tooth structure.
What should a dentist check before whitening?
A dentist first checks for decay, erosion, cracks, gum recession, and mismatched fillings. Cleaning removes calculus and external stain; peroxide whitening acts within tooth structure. Brush with fluoride toothpaste, clean between teeth, limit repeated staining drinks, and follow any tray or in-office instructions. Do not use abrasive powders or household chemicals on enamel.
How should you maintain your teeth after whitening?
Brush with fluoride toothpaste, clean between teeth, limit repeated staining drinks, and follow any tray or in-office instructions. Do not use abrasive powders or household chemicals on enamel. Arrange care for a dark single tooth, toothache, bleeding gums, or a colour change that does not match ordinary staining. These signs need diagnosis before cosmetic treatment.
When does a tooth colour change need dental attention?
Arrange care for a dark single tooth, toothache, bleeding gums, or a colour change that does not match ordinary staining. These signs need diagnosis before cosmetic treatment. Ask what finding would change the treatment plan.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important first step?
A dentist first checks for decay, erosion, cracks, gum recession, and mismatched fillings.
When does this need an examination?
Brush with fluoride toothpaste, clean between teeth, limit repeated staining drinks, and follow any tray or in-office instructions.
Who wrote this page
This library is published by Dental Nation, a licensed dental group practising in the United Arab Emirates. Pages are written and overseen by the same clinical team that treats patients in our clinics, and are held to a fixed editorial standard for safety and accuracy.
This page is patient education, not medical advice, and cannot replace an examination. Anything urgent — facial swelling, trauma, uncontrolled bleeding or severe pain — needs a dentist or emergency care now.