You still love your gold crowns but you’re looking to improve the look of the rest of your mouth. Whitening treatment is your choice, but your’e worried about what could happen to your gold tooth in the process.
Will whitening treatments damage that gold tooth? The answer is no. However, you still need to make sure that gold onlay stays beautiful and shiny along with the rest of those newly-pearly whites!
Benefits Of Teeth Whitening
Most will agree that at-home and professional teeth whitening by a licensed dentist, hygienist, or dental assistant is a great way to achieve noticeably whiter teeth. And those who choose either of these paths to healthier and whiter teeth will be in good company. According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health, an estimated 80 percent of American adults admit to wanting whiter teeth.
This very desire has motivated many of these same individuals to schedule an appointment with their dentist, and those who would rather not be seen by a dentist are turning to over-the-counter teeth whitening kits instead. As a result, professional teeth whitening has been named the number one cosmetic dental procedure in America.
Furthermore, studies show that Americans are spending upwards of one billion dollars every year on at-home teeth whitening kits. Generally speaking, at-home and professional teeth whitening treatments are effective in removing stains from natural teeth; however, they may not be as effective when it comes to gold teeth, according to most dentists.
How Do Gold Teeth Respond to Teeth Whitening Treatments?
One of the misconceptions that some people have when it comes to at-home and professional teeth whitening treatments is they do an equally good job in brightening up a gold crown, dental bridge, or other gold dental appliances. And this couldn’t be any further from the truth. Although carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide do not damage gold fillings, crowns, and dental bridges, for example, they can dull their otherwise brilliant shine over time.
In short, practicing good oral hygiene habits alone is enough to keep gold teeth looking their best. According to the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry, good oral hygiene is a matter of brushing twice each day, using an antimicrobial mouth rinse, and flossing at least once per day.
What You Should Know About Teeth Whitening Treatments
To understand how teeth whitening treatments can impact gold teeth, it helps to know a little more about how these treatments work in general. While the concentration of chemicals is higher in professional whitening solutions, at-home kits, along with those rendered by a licensed dentist, hygienist, or dental assistant, contain carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide.
These chemicals, after one or more applications, can penetrate the enamel and ultimately reach the molecules that cause teeth to become discolored. Once these molecules are broken down, surface stains, such as those caused by coffee and wine, for example, gradually fade away and leave teeth noticeably whiter.
It is worth noting that professional teeth whitening treatments do deliver faster and better results. And this has a lot to do with the fact that most dental practitioners use gels that contain 15 to 35 percent hydrogen peroxide compared to the 3 percent or less found in most over-the-counter whitening kits. The differences are similar when it comes to whitening treatments that contain carbamide as opposed to hydrogen peroxide as well.
How to Improve the Appearance of Your Gold Teeth
Much like natural teeth, gold teeth, whether we are talking about grills, dental fillings, or complete dental prosthesis, will become dull over time. After all, they are in an environment that is home to food particles, bacteria, and species, which can all take a toll on one’s teeth if they don’t practice good oral hygiene habits. To further put this into perspective, there are over 100 million bacteria for every milliliter of saliva in the human mouth, according to a study published by Science Daily.
The study further goes on to note that the human mouth also contains over 600 different species. Bacteria and species can cause plaque and tartar buildup, which can increase the risk of cavities and tooth decay in natural teeth. And they can also make them even more prone to stains. That being said, here are a few things that you can do to keep your gold and natural teeth looking and functioning at their very best:
Brushing twice per day – Brushing your teeth twice per day with a fluoride-based toothpaste can help keep the bacteria and species that naturally accumulate in your mouth to a minimum. Doing so can also reduce the risk of cavities and improve the health and appearance of your natural teeth. Lastly, brushing twice per day can even add a little more shine to your gold teeth as well.
Flossing – The best way to remove food particles from in-between your teeth and to keep cavities at bay is to floss at least once per day. And this includes flossing in between your natural teeth and gold teeth.
Mouthwash – A great way to kill bacteria and species that accumulate in your mouth is by using an antimicrobial mouthwash. They can also go along way toward freshening your breath and keeping plaque and tartar at bay.
Quit smoking – If you’re a smoker and have gold teeth, you have yet another reason to consider quitting. Studies show that tobacco smoke can tarnish the shine on gold dental appliances. As far as natural teeth, tobacco smoke can also cause gum infections and, worse yet, tooth loss.
Soaking your teeth – If you wear gold grills, you should remove them periodically and soak them in a non-abrasive cleaning solution to keep them looking their best.
Bottom Line
In summary, teeth whitening treatments can help improve the health and appearance of your natural teeth. However, when it comes to gold teeth, these treatments do not offer the same benefits. Fortunately, following the tip outlined in this article and scheduling regular checkups with a dentist can help in this regard. Doing so can also help keep your gums, natural teeth, and overall oral cavity healthy in tip-top shape.
