Bright white smile teeth whitening
Teeth whitening lightens natural tooth colour by using peroxide, but fillings, crowns, and veneers do not whiten with the teeth.
The short answer
Teeth whitening uses a peroxide gel to lighten stains in natural enamel and dentine, while tooth-coloured fillings, crowns, and veneers keep their existing colour. The result depends on the original shade, stain type, tooth condition, and method used.
What is the direct answer?
What does this question mean?
External stains collect on enamel from foods, drinks, tobacco, or plaque, while internal colour changes can arise within dentine or during tooth development. Whitening changes tooth colour chemically and does not repair decay or replace a restoration.
What can you do next?
Have the teeth and gums examined before whitening, then use a dentist-provided or appropriately directed peroxide method. Follow the application time exactly, avoid whitening over untreated decay, and maintain the result with plaque control and stain-conscious habits.
When should you seek dental care?
Seek an examination for pain, cavities, cracked teeth, gum disease, or one dark tooth before using whitening gel. Stop and contact a dentist if marked sensitivity, gum irritation, or an uneven colour change develops.
What should you ask the dentist?
Ask whether the discolouration is external or internal, whether existing restorations will match afterward, and which peroxide concentration and tray design fit your teeth. Ask how sensitivity will be managed if it occurs.
Frequently asked questions
Why did whitening make my teeth look uneven?
Natural teeth can lighten while restorations retain their former shade, and different stain types can respond differently.
Can whitening remove every stain?
No. Some internal discolouration needs restorative or other treatment rather than peroxide alone.