How Bright Should You Whiten Your Teeth?

Closeup of a woman with perfect teeth smiling Having your teeth professionally whitened has so many benefits – it is safe and effective, you’ll see results quickly, and those results will be long lasting. But before that tooth whitening appointment, you have an important decision to make: how bright do you want your teeth to be?

How White Should They Be?

You might just assume that the brighter and whiter your teeth are the better, but isn’t the goal really to have your teeth look not only beautiful but natural?

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you consider what shade you want your teeth to be:

  • Adult teeth aren’t really white. Our baby teeth are white, but our permanent teeth are naturally darker. Your dentist will help you to determine exactly what shade your teeth are to help you decide how much whitening you want to do – just lightening your teeth by two or three shades will make your smile look whiter. For very dramatic results, it is possible to lighten your teeth up to seven shades. You can always go brighter later; if you choose a shade and later decide it’s not bright enough, you can always get another whitening treatment. However, there is not much that can be done if your teeth are too bright, so it may be best to not make any dramatic changes.
  • Some stains can’t be erased. Darker stains on teeth may still be noticeable on whitened teeth, and they may even stand out more. Veneers are one solution.
  • Whitening doesn’t affect restorations. Fillings and crowns will keep their color even if your teeth are whiter and brighter because of a whitening procedure. You should take this into account when choosing how white you want to go, so that your restorations and your teeth are the same color. Having your restorations replaced after your tooth whitening is another option.

Are you ready to make an appointment for professional tooth whitening? The staff at Soft Touch Dentistry can help you to decide how bright you want your teeth to be and can answer any other questions you may have. Contact the Brighton office at (617) 782-9250 or the Newton office at (617) 332-8146 today!

Get in Touch

We would love to discuss your options with you! Kindly complete the form provided below, and one of our team members will reach out to you promptly. Please note that this form is intended for new patient inquiries. If you are an established patient, please contact our office directly for any questions or changes regarding appointments. Thank You!

* All indicated fields must be completed.
Please include non-medical questions and correspondence only.

Office Hours

M-Th: 8:00am - 6:00pm
F: 8:00am - 2:00pm
Sat: 9:00am – 3:00pm
Open only one Saturday a month
Sun: Closed

Accessibility Toolbar

Scroll to Top