What to do with Uneven Color After Teeth Bleaching

In today's dental world, there are a bevy of teeth bleaching options available. Your dentist can outfit you with molded bleaching trays. You then place bleach into the trays and wear them for a few hours each day until your teeth reach the desired level of whiteness. Most dentists also offer in-office laser bleaching sessions. Regardless of the method used, some people experience uneven results from bleaching. Thankfully, there are some things you can do to correct the issue.

Instructions

1. Know that uneven bleaching results are common. Since structure and composition vary from tooth to tooth, some teeth may respond to bleaching more quickly than others. During the bleaching process, these responsive teeth will appear whiter than the surrounding teeth.

2. Be aware that the edges of your teeth may lighten more quickly than their centers. This is because enamel tends to be thinner at a tooth's edge. The center of the tooth has thicker enamel so it takes longer for the bleach to penetrate the area.

3. Continue bleaching your teeth per your dentist's instructions. You must give the less responsive teeth a chance to catch up to the whiter teeth. Oftentimes, teeth with less calcium respond to bleaching more quickly.

4. Stop bleaching your teeth for a few days once they have reached their desired whiteness level. Initially, your teeth may appear uneven but after a few days, they should become more uniform. It generally takes between three and 10 days for the color to even out across your teeth.

5. Avoid cigarettes, red wine and coffee while you are bleaching your teeth. Since teeth are more porous during the bleaching process, they are more susceptible to stains. Consuming these substances will increase your chances of uneven results.

6. Talk to your dentist about solutions if you have any non-natural teeth. Crowns, fillings, veneers and caps do not respond to bleach since they are not natural teeth. If you whiten your natural teeth, your restorative dentistry will stand out in stark contrast. Your dentist can replace your non-natural teeth with those in lighter shades so they will again match the surrounding teeth.

Tips & Warnings

• You will have to re-bleach your teeth every six months or so, if you wish to maintain the lightened results.

• Stop bleaching your teeth and see your dentist if you experience extreme teeth sensitivity.