When Your Teen Wants to Whiten Her Teeth

Posted on 6/25/2016 by Janie Bell

A teenage girl happy with her newly whitened teeth and braces.

Has your teenager expressed her frustration with her yellow or discolored teeth?

Has she asked about whitening her teeth in order to get a more attractive smile? If so, it is important that you understand some important facts about teens and teeth whitening. Keep these facts in mind if your teen wants to whiten her teeth.

Keep Age Guidelines in Mind

Most dentists recommend waiting until your teen is at least 14 before you start to whiten her teeth, and at-home whitening systems should never be used for children ages 13 or younger.

However, you should be sure to consult with her dentist before trying any whitening system. Your dentist will be able to assess whether your teen has any underlying dental issues that need to be resolved before you try to whiten her teeth.

Make Sure She Has Realistic Expectations
If your teen expects to achieve drastic results with home whitening systems, she will likely be disappointed. Unfortunately, this may lead her to start overusing or abusing whitening products, which could result in sensitivity. Make sure that she knows what to expect in terms of whitening results.

Talk About How to Avoid Stains

If your teen wants whiter teeth, whitening treatments are only one step in handling the problem. She will need to take precautions in order to avoid future stains, so you should talk to her about foods that she should avoid in order to keep her teeth white.

This is also another good time to have a conversation about the dangers of smoking, as yellow-brown stains are extremely common when smoking cigarettes.

Don't Rely on Whitening Toothpaste

If your teen is hoping to get major results in terms of whitening, she shouldn't rely on whitening toothpastes. While this type of toothpaste can be helpful at removing surface stains, she won't see the same results as procedures that whiten after penetrating the enamel.

Please contact us if you have any questions about teeth whitening.

D. Ian Bell, D.D.S.
Advanced Aesthetic, Restorative & Family Dentistry
Bellevue-Redmond Professional Center

15613 Bel-Red Rd, Suite A
Bellevue, WA 98008-2348

(425) 883-8333
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