3 Important Reasons to Have Hardened Plaque Removed Prior to Teeth Whitening

When plaque isn't properly cleaned away through a good oral healthcare regime, it can harden onto the teeth, becoming what is known as tartar or calculus. Unfortunately, even the most stringent home cleaning cannot always prevent tartar, so you should really have a hygienist clean it away professionally. This is always a good idea, but it's particularly advantageous to have your plaque build-up removed before you have your teeth whitened, and here are just three reasons why.

1. No Dark Spots

Probably the most immediately obvious problem that comes along with a build-up of plaque is that it will shield your teeth from the whitening gel you use. Whitening gel cannot penetrate through plaque, so the teeth underneath will not be whitened. If you have the plaque removed after the whitening procedure, there will be darker spots where the plaque used to be. The difference will be even more noticeable if you leave the plaque where it is and still have your teeth whitened. The build-up will stay yellowy and unattractive, creating a steadily more obvious contrast with your whitening teeth.

2. Better Fit

There are several different options available when it comes to tooth whitening, but most people will probably end up going with whitening trays. These are custom-made by your dentist, who will take a mould of your teeth to ensure a perfect fit. The great thing is that you can wear the trays again whenever you need to re-whiten in the future. The problem is that a build-up of plaque is going to result in a slightly poor fit. It won't be particularly noticeable, but it will mean that your trays won't align perfectly with your teeth when the plaque is finally removed. This means that future whitening procedures won't be as effective, and you may find yourself having to pick up a new set of trays.

3. Prevent Further Damage

One of the major problems associated with a plaque build-up is the release of more acids into the mouth. Those acids will serve to break down your tooth enamel, which can be a real danger during tooth whitening since the teeth will already be vulnerable. Additionally, worn tooth enamel is going to let in more staining compounds. If you don't have your plaque build-up removed, staining will be more likely to occur in the future, so your whitening procedure won't last as long and you'll be forced to go through another one to replicate the results.


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