If you’re thinking about teeth whitening to brighten your smile, you may be wondering: how white is too white? Here are some tips for teeth whitening to help ensure you don’t go a step too far.
It happens all the time with teeth whitening: whether it’s someone you know, or perhaps a celebrity at a big event or on TV, some people just get a little carried away when they whiten their teeth.
It can get to the point that the teeth get so white, they start to look almost artificial. When the person smiles, it feels like you might be blinded if you look straight at those super bright, glaringly white teeth.
When whitening your teeth, it’s important to keep in mind that it's easy to go a little (or much) too far. You want your teeth to be lighter in colour and healthier looking, but you still want them to look natural.
There are also some serious oral health problems that can result from bleaching your teeth too much. Your enamel can actually become damaged with over-whitening, increasing the likelihood of decay, and giving your teeth a translucent, blue or grey appearance.
Tips for Knowing When to Stop
1. There's an easy trick to figure out the ideal shade of white for your teeth: it should match, as closely as possible, the colour of your eyes. Use that shade as a guide as you're going through the whitening process; Once you’ve reached it, you can stop, and focus on maintenance; your teeth will be plenty white enough at that point.
2. It's important to consult with your dentist regularly during the whitening process as well. You’re more likely to go too far if you’re going it alone.
3. Don’t compare your teeth to those of celebrities. While the level of whiteness a given celebrity may work for that person, whose job involves constantly being in front of a camera, it just won’t look right on most people in person.
And remember, teeth are not actually supposed to be stark, bright white. They have a natural pale yellow undertone, and that’s fine!