Question:
I have perfectly straight teeth but from years of eating and drinking way too much vinegar and lemons when I was younger, the enamel has worn off and my teeth are stained. What would be the best way to whiten my teeth without damaging them further?

Answer:
Realistically, you would not be an ideal candidate for tooth whitening, primarily because the lack of enamel covering on your teeth would firstly make them appear more yellow to begin with, and secondly, you may experience increased sensitivity during or immediately after the treatment. Modern whitening processes generally cause less sensitivity than their predecessors, and adjunctive treatments like desensitising gels can be used to reduce the risk of sensitivity.

If your concern is long-term damage to the teeth, then be assured that the general consensus in the dental literature suggests that tooth whitening is completely safe and causes no long-term damage to tooth structure at all. I wish there was an easy answer to this, but each case has to be assessed individually for its suitability for treatment.

For more information please visit Dr Angelo Lazaris's website.