By: Victoria Welch

It’s one of the classic marks of a Hollywood star: a brilliant white smile. Those white teeth look like they’ve never encountered a single drop of coffee, cigarette, even a slice of blueberry pie. And while many of us realize that such a bright smile is the result of regular cosmetic dentistry visits, that doesn’t make us feel any better about our own all-to-mortal chompers.

Teeth whitening has become the number one requested cosmetic dental procedure, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and while many people strive for a whiter grin, it becomes difficult to find that line where a healthy smile ends and a freakishly bright white smile begins. Given the Hollywood standard – which looks great on camera but would look bizarre in real life – people don’t realize that too white is all too common.

True White, Too White
Realistically, your body is going to show some of the effects of living. This means that your teeth are going to show the effects of years worth of eating and drinking. While you can combat this through regular tooth care, at-home and at the dentist’s office, it is natural to see at least a little coloration on your teeth. Remember that Ross Gellar was the punchline of a teeth-whitening joke on the NBC show Friends for taking it too far – after inadvertently leaving his whitening tray on too long, he scared his date with teeth that glowed in the dark.

Too Young, Too White
The obsession of adults don’t go unnoticed by youngsters. The quest for a perfect smile has begun to impact even those whose adult teeth have yet to fully grow in. This one should be obvious: if your child is having his teeth bleached, take a step back. Not only is this placing an unhealthy obsession with physical beauty on an impressionable youth, it’s an expensive waste of money.

Too Sensitive, Too White
Teeth whitening procedures can often cause minimal sensitivity on teeth or among the gumline, but if your surefire bleaching approach is making your teeth throb, ask yourself whether or not it is worth the pain. Be sure that your whitening method is approved by the American Dental Association – if it’s not, you could be asking for serious dental damage in the years to come. If it is, it’s OK to take a few days off from your program and resume when your teeth have become less painful.

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