Good dental care will allow you to avoid tooth decay and cavities. But the one thing absolutely nobody can ever avoid is a discoloration of teeth. Even if you don’t partake in teeth-staining products such as coffee or tobacco and even if you brush and floss your teeth as often as required, the aging process naturally wears down the enamel on a tooth. As a result, the color of a tooth’s core—yellow—ends up gradually overtaking those "pearly whites."

When, though, is it time for getting your teeth whitened? The teeth whitening needs and desires of each patient are different and there is no set standard for teeth whitening for patients. However, answering this list of questions will surely help you reach a teeth whitening decision:

Is the yellowing of your teeth making you self-conscious? There’s no need for you to be afraid or unwilling to smile. Getting your teeth whitened is a fairly expensive procedure (the average cost is in the $550 range) and not guaranteed to be covered by insurance, but to paraphrase an old cliché, you only feel as good as you look. Teeth whitening is a great way to boost your appearance and, with it, your self-esteem.

Is most of the discoloration of your teeth a matter of age and the foods and drinks you consume? If so, then teeth whitening will be far more successful than if the causes are something else (such as inorganic stains, drug use and trauma).

Along those lines, getting your teeth whitened is a good idea if you have either successfully quit poor dental habit such as drinking soda, smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco, or if you are looking for inspiration to do so. Newly whitened teeth are both a nice reward for beginning better dental health and a reason to maintain those new habits!

How strong are your teeth? The color of most teeth will be improved during a whitening procedure. However, front teeth that are transparent and thinner may not have the necessary pigment needed for whitening. Unfortunately, no amount of teeth whitening can correct transparency. On the other hand, whitening will have a positive effect as long as a set of teeth are thick and opaque.

How old are you? This is one time when it’s not rude to ask someone his or her age! The younger a patient is, the more likely he or she is to experience a dramatically positive effect from whitening. Teenagers who undergo the procedure can see their teeth almost or completely restored to their optimal whiteness. The degree of success trends downward the older a patient gets, as teeth begin to become yellow in the 20s before turning brown in the 40s and even darker in the 50s and beyond. However, don’t let that discourage you—success with teeth whitening can still be enjoyed deep into middle age.

No matter how old you are, getting your teeth whitened can yield positive results. If the answers to these questions have you believing you would benefit from the procedure, contact your dentist today!