“Who cares what they’re wearingOn Main Street or Saville Row?It’s what you wear from ear to earAnd not from head to toeThat matters”
Leave it to “Annie” to teach a valuable life lesson that has lasted for decades. Today, students have turned to whitening systems such as hydrogen peroxide bleaching and whitening toothpastes in an attempt to enhance a most treasured feature: their smile.
Stephanie Sobol, the assistant coordinator of health promotion for Student Health Services, said it is important for students to keep up a good dental regimen. For the average person, this means brushing twice daily and flossing daily.
“Some folks may be advised to brush more often,” she said.
Though brushing and flossing remove most surface stains, according to Sobol, some foods can stain teeth. Whitening agents assist in removing these extrinsic and intrinsic stains.
According to ADA.org, the American Dental Association’s Web site, bleaching products alter the natural tooth color and come in the form of gels, strips and in-office trays. The products contain peroxide agents, which aid in removing intrinsic stains, which are deep into the tooth, and extrinsic stains, on the surface of the tooth. Whitening products that only remove surface stains do not contain bleach, and come primarily in the form of toothpastes.
There are numerous over-the-counter products and in-office treatments geared toward removing visible stains from teeth – making them appear and in some cases, remain brighter.
Jessie Mondestin, a dentist at the Spa for Smiles in Winston-Salem, specializes in ZOOM!, one form of in-office bleaching system with an at-home, follow-up treatment.
“ZOOM! is an excellent way to brighten your smile. It’s convenient, and only one visit to the office is required,” she said.
According to Mondestin, the light-activated hydrogen peroxide bleach is left on the teeth for 45 minutes. As the hydrogen peroxide is broken down, oxygen enters the enamel and bleaches the tooth’s discolorations.
“The patient watches TV for about an hour, and during that time their teeth are whitened by four to eight shades,” she said.
Dentists provide ZOOM! patients with personally fitted trays, which they can use at home for follow-up whitening treatments.
Though whiter teeth can, according to Mondestin, approve one’s overall image, not everyone notices a whiter smile.
Carol Schroeder, director of the University Career Center, said employers do not generally take into consideration how white an applicant’s teeth are during an interview.
“The general impression you give is more important, such as your cleanliness and wearing appropriate clothing,” she said.
However, though employers only wish for their employees’ teeth to appear healthy, Schroeder said having teeth that are too white could potentially cause a distraction during an interview.
“If a student had teeth that were so incredibly white, it would be a little off-putting for the employer,” she said.
Bleaching systems do whiten teeth, but the extent to which these treatments are effective varies from each system. Some systems even prevent future stains. However, teeth that have been bleached only display the exterior appearance of a healthy mouth; according to the ADA, bleaching does not rid teeth of bacteria or infection.
The ADA emphasizes the importance of keeping a clean, healthy mouth – once that has been accomplished, cosmetic treatments such as bleaching can be considered. Because whitening unhealthy teeth does not cure any problems, the first step taken should be to improve the overall health of teeth.
Healthy, not overly white, teeth are the most important aspects of a smile that can captivate the attention of an employer, according to Schroeder.
“Clean teeth: yes. White teeth: good. Ultra-white: not that important,” she said.
