Teeth whitening is an important cosmetic dental procedure for those who want to optimize the appearance of their smile.

Getting accurate information about teeth whitening is important if you're looking for ways to improve the appearance of your teeth. Unfortunately, there are a lot of inaccurate assumptions people make when it comes to teeth whitening. 

The following are seven inaccurate assumptions that are frequently made about teeth whitening. 

Cosmetic teeth whitening procedures are bad for your teeth.

Some patients are discouraged from undergoing teeth whitening procedures because they feel that they're not necessary for overall dental health and can even harm the teeth. Patients sometimes assume that teeth whitening is bad for the enamel or causes permanent sensitivity issues. 

Although teeth whitening can sometimes make the teeth slightly more sensitive after a procedure, it's important to note that this is a temporary effect. Undergoing a teeth whitening procedure that is done by your dentist won't cause any damage or permanent sensitivity issues.

Teeth whitening is an expensive procedure.

Patients may think that they can't afford teeth whitening because it's not a procedure that is covered by a standard dental insurance policy. Even though insurance might not cover teeth whitening, teeth whitening is a dental procedure that is not usually very expensive when paid for out-of-pocket.

Discuss the costs of teeth whitening with your dentist and you're likely to find that it is inexpensive enough for you to pay out-of-pocket. 

Teeth whitening alone can ensure a good-looking smile.

Although teeth whitening can improve the look of one's teeth, it's still important for patients to maintain good oral hygiene practices.

Brushing the teeth regularly will maintain the results of teeth whitening over time. Of course, brushing and flossing are also important for avoiding tooth decay and optimizing oral health. 

One teeth whitening procedure will permanently improve the look of your teeth.

Teeth whitening can significantly improve the whiteness of one's teeth for an extended period of time. However, results are not permanent.

The results of teeth whitening can fade over time. This is especially true if a patient does not brush often enough or avoid consuming a lot of stain-causing substances such as tea and red wine. 

At-home whitening kits are as effective as teeth whitening procedures at the dentist.

There are at home whitening kits available that patients can use to get whiter teeth. However, these at home procedures are not generally as effective as having the whitening done at a dentist office. 

Teeth whitening procedures are effective on implants and crowns.

Although teeth whitening procedures are effective at making natural teeth look whiter, it's important to note that they don't work on dental fixtures such as implants and crowns. 

Procedures like oil pulling are as effective as teeth whitening.

Some people think at-home remedies such as oil pulling are as effective at whitening teeth as in-office teeth whitening procedures at the dentist. However, oil pulling has not been scientifically proven to make a significant difference in whiteness of teeth.

For more information about teeth whitening, consult a dental professional near you.