Do Whitening Strips Work on Bonded Teeth?

Written by Dr. Brian Harris

August 07, 2023

Whitening strips gradually remove stains or yellowing caused by habits, drinks, and food. But do whitening strips work on bonded teeth? 

If you're getting dental bonding soon or have already done it, this question has probably crossed your mind.

Various whitening treatments can help you brighten your smile. However, dental bonding doesn’t respond to the usual suspects of whitening treatments. 

In this article, we answer common dental bonding questions, including what it is, what teeth whitening is, and if you can whiten your teeth with teeth bonding.

What this article covers:

What Is Dental Bonding?

Dental bonding uses tooth-colored composite resin as an adhesive to improve your smile. This bonding resin is made of acrylic and silica particles and mixed with a liquid monomer. Unlike other cosmetic dentistry procedures, like porcelain veneers, dental bonding is 100% reversible.

composite bonding to whiten teeth

Why Would Someone Need To Get Teeth Bonding

You would get dental bonding for several reasons:

To Improve Your Smile

Teeth bonding enhances your smile by:

  • Concealing chips and cracks
  • Closing gaps
  • Hiding discoloration
  • Changing the shape of teeth
  • Making teeth look stronger

Restorative Dentistry

Teeth bonding is also a restorative treatment for repairing damaged teeth. It protects exposed tooth roots, fills cavities, replaces old silver fillings, and strengthens cracked or weakened teeth.

What Is Teeth Whitening?

In a nutshell, teeth whitening restores your teeth’s natural color and shine with bleaching agents. It lightens your teeth by oxidizing organic stains (from food, drinks, and tobacco) on the enamel and dentin. You can whiten your teeth using various teeth whitening treatments, like teeth whitening strips.

Do whitening strips work on yellow teeth? Yes, teeth whitening strips lighten your teeth a shade or two. They're ideal for both intrinsic and extrinsic stains. However, we recommend visiting a dentist for customized treatment with significant results.

Should I dry my teeth before whitening strips? Yes, drying your teeth makes the treatment more effective. Does saliva ruin teeth whitening strips? Based on our observations, saliva makes whitening strips less effective. You can use a cheek retractor to slow your saliva’s roll for better results.

How long do teeth whitening strips take to work? You should see results in as little as seven days. Are teeth whitening strips permanent? No, whitening strips aren’t permanent. Depending on your oral hygiene, their effects can last up to six months.

does composite bonding whiten teeth

Can You Whiten Your Teeth If You Have Dental Bonding?

Sadly, normal teeth whitening products don't work on dental bonding. Should I whiten my teeth before getting a crown? Since bonding resin matches your natural tooth color, whitening your teeth will create a mismatched look on a crown. That’s why it’s best to do a whitening treatment before dental bonding.

How Dental Bonding Responds To Color

Unlike tooth enamel, composite resin is nonporous and discolors through exposure to staining agents. This means whitening agents penetrate your natural teeth easily, but not the bonding material. If you use normal whitening products with bonded teeth, some of your teeth will look lighter and create a patchy effect.

Effects of Teeth Whitening

Before using teeth whitening products, it’s important to understand their effects. Always use teeth whitening treatments as instructed, but expect some side effects like tooth sensitivity as well as gum irritation, soreness, and redness. 

composite bonding whiten teeth

How to Whiten Your Bonded Teeth at Home: Tips and Techniques

Here are some techniques for safely coloring your bonded teeth at home:

Use Products That Are Recommended By Dentists

You'll get the best results using whitening products specially formulated for use with bonding. Whitening mouthwash, teeth whitening foam, and teeth whitening powder have hydrogen peroxide that safely removes surface stains from composite resin. 

teeth whitening strips on bonded teeth

Eat healthy food

Eating healthy and nutritious food reduces the acidity in your mouth and prevents staining. Avoid foods like coffee, tea, and red wine to keep your teeth white and bright for longer.

Brush Twice A Day

Brush your teeth twice a day with a teeth-whitening toothbrush. It has advanced sonic tech and blue LED for whitening support, which helps clean teeth better.

do whitening strips work on composite bonding

Conclusion

Whitening bonded teeth requires specialized products and techniques. Make use of SNOW's oral cosmetic products to enhance your smile. Our products are safe and effective for teeth with composite resins. 

Stick with us to achieve a bright and beautiful smile with our award-winning teeth-whitening products!

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