What you should know before whitening your teeth
If your eyes are the window to your soul, perhaps your mouth is the window to your thoughts, feelings, and dreams. Every day we want to live as our best self, and if you’re hiding your teeth from years of accumulated stains, you may not be able to.
If you don’t feel that your teeth are at their whitest and brightest, our office uses a variety of teeth whitening techniques that can make your teeth gleam. Whether you want in-office or at-home treatments, we have many options for you!
Teeth Whitening FAQ’s
Q: What causes my teeth to turn yellow or brown? A: There are natural and habitual reasons for your teeth to be discolored. The most common is food or drink; coffee, tea, colas, wines, and certain foods like cherries or potatoes can cause surface stains that can stain further if teeth are not taken care of. Using tobacco or smoking can also result in stains, as well as certain medications, disease, or genetics.
Q: How do I know if I am able to get my teeth whitened? A: First, you will need to set up a consultation with us so we may assess your oral health and decide on the best whitening method for you. If you have sensitive teeth or periodontal disease, we can recommend non-chemical whitening treatments to avoid tender teeth or gums. Every case if different, but we’re here to help!
Q: Is tooth whitening harmful to my enamel? A: There is no permanent damage caused to enamel or other tooth structures by teeth whitening. The immediate effect may be tooth sensitivity, which will typically go away within one or two days after the treatment. After that short period, your teeth will return to its regular state of sensitivity
Q: How long will it last? A: Depending on the type of teeth whitening procedure you have done, it can last from 6 months to 2 years. The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry reports cases in which teeth whitening has lasted for 10 years. After your whitening treatment, it’s best to avoid red wine, coffee and smoking, which can all cause teeth to become stained.
Q: I have fillings. Will whitening affect them? A: Whitening your teeth have little to no effect on restorative materials such as porcelain crowns, but it can temporarily reduce the bond strength between enamel and composite restorations, like fillings. If you have cavities when we do your pre-whitening evaluation, we may advise certain care instructions for your teeth if you have fillings, veneers or crowns.
Q: Is a whitening toothpaste enough to help whiten my teeth? A: Typically, whitening toothpastes will only clean surface stains of your teeth. If your teeth have had years of stains, it will be nearly impossible to remove them with just a whitening toothpaste.
Q: What are the types of whitening services that you offer? A: We offer different options based on your needs. We evaluate what type of whitening treatment you need or can have based on the current health of your teeth, your preferences, and your habits. In some cases, teeth that are yellow respond best to bleaching. Brown, gray, mottled teeth, or teeth exposed to too much fluoride, may be more challenging to whiten. We use Zoom teeth whitening, which is a revolutionary in-office process that gets your teeth their whitest in just over an hour. If you’d prefer an at-home treatment, our whitening kits are easy to use and achieve great results in 4-6 weeks.
Q: Is there any type of procedure other than my pre-whitening visit that I will need to have done? A: First we will need to do a professional cleaning to remove external staining caused by food and tobacco. The regular use of a whitening toothpaste, as we mentioned, removes surface stains will help us in this process. After your cleaning, if you are having an in-office teeth whitening procedure, we are able to begin.
You should have the smile you deserve. And we can help you get there! Have more questions for us? Comment below, or contact us! To schedule an appointment or inquire about other services, call us at 239-936-0597.
