Couple with white teeth smiling

You’ve been through teeth whitening. But your teeth still aren’t as white as you expected them to be. Why is that?

At Dr. Q’s dental clinic we provide a personalized teeth whitening treatment for our patients in Monrovia, CA. There are many factors that decide just how white your teeth can become through this procedure.

Here’s what you should know.

What Is Teeth Whitening?

Most Monrovia patients are familiar with teeth whitening; it is one of the most common solutions for dull, yellowish or discolored teeth. It is a very effective and efficient process for whitening your teeth and giving you that bright, brilliant smile that you’ve always wanted.

However, the results of teeth whitening differ from one person to another. This is because of many reasons.

Some Monrovia patients have teeth that are naturally white, while others are genetically predisposed to having discolored or dull teeth. Lifestyle factors such as drinking coffee, tea or wine can cause discoloration of the teeth as well.

Let’s discuss this in detail.

There Are 3 Factors That Affect Teeth Whitening Results.

Factor #1: Original Color and Condition of Teeth

Original Color: The original color of the teeth matters. Often, we find that patients who have teeth with a yellowish hue respond better to the procedure compared to those with brownish or gray hues. The brownish hue is caused by overexposure to fluoride, while the grayish hue is usually a result of taking antibiotics such as tetracycline.

Original Condition: The original condition of the teeth is very important. If your teeth are not clean, and there is a lot of plaque buildup, it is important to get them professionally cleaned before undergoing the whitening treatment. If you have cavities, then that has to be taken care of first, before the whitening procedure.

Factor #2: Not Following the Dentist’s Instructions.

The success of the whitening procedure will depend on how well you follow the instructions given by your dentist. We give a list of Do’s and Don’ts to our patients following the treatment. This includes staying away from red wine, not drinking tea or coffee for a week after the treatment, keeping the teeth clean, and so on. Unfortunately, not everyone follows our detailed instructions. Always listen to your dentist!

Factor #3: Bad Lifestyle Choices.

No whitening treatment will work if you continue making the wrong lifestyle choices such as having too many cups of coffee or tea, drinking red wine and colas, or smoking. These are the sort of habits that cause the staining of the teeth in the first place.

Also, avoid consuming pigmented or acidic foods such as tomatoes and oranges. Medications that contain doxycycline and tetracycline lead to the discoloration or staining of the teeth as well.

The good news is that most of these stains caused by lifestyle choices are yellowish, and not grayish or brownish – which means they respond better to the whitening agents.

Dr. Q is a friendly dental clinic that serves the Monrovia community. We provide a range of preventive, restorative and cosmetic dental treatments to give you a truly stunning, beautiful smile.

If you’re looking for a customized teeth whitening treatment at an affordable cost in Monrovia or the surrounding areas, contact Dr. Q’s dental office at (626) 599-9818 Today!