Teeth whitening is one of the most commonly requested for cosmetic dental procedures. However, a mistake people make when they choose to whiten their teeth is overlooking the plaque they have developed over the years. When this plaque is not cleaned out properly, it hardens and forms tartar on the surface of your teeth. Tartar is quite difficult to remove with your standard oral care regime. Thus, it is pertinent to set an appointment to have your teeth thoroughly cleaned beforehand. So what are some of the reasons why you should have plaque removed before you get teeth whitening procedures done?

Removal of plaque protects your teeth from subsequent damage

Tartar buildup on your teeth is not merely an aesthetic problem. The more plaque that keeps accumulating on your teeth, the more acidic your mouth becomes. This increased acidity creates a prime breeding ground for bacteria. Moreover, as the plaque releases acids in your mouth, you become at risk of enamel erosion.

Removal of plaque ensures a better fit

The most popular teeth whitening procedure that patients gravitate toward is laser teeth whitening. Nevertheless, this is not the only option available to you. In some cases, your cosmetic dentist may prescribe whitening trays that will work to continue the whitening process, especially if you have severely stained teeth. If you have tartar on our teeth, you will experience problems with correctly fitting these whitening trays. Since the plaque has hardened, it causes the surface of your teeth to become uneven. As a result, your whitening trays fit poorly, which translates into inefficient whitening. To ensure that your teeth align properly with the whitening trays, it would be in your best interests to have the tartar scraped off beforehand.

Removal of plaque will prevent the development of dark spots

When you have a layer of plaque on your teeth, you will find that whitening treatment becomes less effective. Since the tartar is embedded on the tooth, it creates a barrier between your enamel and the whitening gel. Since the whitening gel is unable to absorb into the plaque, dark spots form on the areas of your teeth that were not exposed to the treatment. As a result, you end up investing in the improvement of your teeth only to find that your teeth are not as bright as they could have been. Moreover, failure to remove this plaque leads to permanent yellowing of your teeth over time, which can adversely affect their aesthetics.