Do dentist cleanings whiten teeth

A dental cleaning is professional removal of plaque, hardened tartar, and stain from the crowns of the teeth and, when needed, around the gum line. The dentist or hygienist uses an ultrasonic scaler or hand instruments, then polishes with a rotating rubber cup and polishing paste.

Plaque and tartar can make enamel look dull or yellow, and tobacco, coffee, tea, and some foods can leave deposits on the surface. Color within enamel or dentin, a filling, crown, or veneer will not be changed by polishing.

If your teeth look darker because of deposits, arrange a routine examination and cleaning. The clinician can inspect the enamel, gums, and existing restorations, remove deposits, and polish the exposed tooth surfaces.

If the cleaned teeth are still darker than you want, ask whether peroxide whitening is suitable for your enamel, gums, fillings, crowns, or veneers. Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, clean between the teeth, and limit repeated contact with staining drinks to help maintain the result.

Arrange a dental assessment if one tooth changes color, the color change follows an injury, or discoloration remains after surface deposits are removed. These patterns can involve the pulp, dentin, enamel, or an existing restoration and need an examination rather than more polishing.

Seek prompt care for discoloration with toothache, swelling, a bad taste, a loose tooth, or bleeding that does not settle. A dentist may examine the tooth, test its response, measure the gums, and take an X-ray when the findings call for one.

Ask whether the color is surface stain, a change within enamel or dentin, or a restoration that cannot be bleached. Ask whether cleaning alone is likely to change the appearance and, if not, which whitening method matches your teeth and gums.