An effective way to keep teeth healthy and bright is to brush and floss daily. But sometimes more of an effort is needed to keep your teeth looking their best and brightest. If you have been considering teeth whitening as a way to improve teeth that may be affected by food stains, tobaccos use, or age-related changes to enamel here’s what you need to know about this process.

Evaluating Your Teeth

Teeth whitening is a fairly simple and painless process that involves using special tooth bleaches. The most common ones used are hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide as the bleaching agent. In a nutshell, these solutions break down stains so the white part of each tooth is more visible.

During your initial visit, a dentist will evaluate the current state of your teeth. This step is important because teeth whitening isn’t right for everyone. The nature of your tooth discoloration will determine if this treatment is right for you.

Getting Your Teeth Ready

If you are a good candidate for professional teeth whitening, the first is usually a thorough cleaning. This is done to remove any surface materials that may be on your teeth. Polishing may also be done to get rid of plaque that may be on the teeth that will be treated. Preparation for treatment also typically involves:

• Using gauze to dry the mouth
• Placing retractors in strategic areas to keep the lips, tongue, and cheeks away from the whitening solution
• Placing an added barrier next to the gumline to provide extra protection during the whitening process

Performing the Whitening Treatment

Once your mouth is ready for the whitening process, treatment begins. Your teeth will be coated with a whitening solution that’s placed on the front surface of each tooth that needs to be treated. Some whitening products used by a dentist also require the use of a curing light or laser. The purpose of this step is to activate the peroxide. The solution usually remains in place for 30-60 minutes.

Because the teeth whitening treatment does leave some solution behind once the process is complete, the treated teeth will be rinsed once the optimal or desired shade has been reached. A fluoride application may be used as well. What this additional step does is reduce tooth sensitivity, which some patients do experience after treatment. The entire process takes about 60-90 minutes to complete.

Determining How Many Sessions You May Need

If tooth discoloration is minor, you may only need one session to see the desired results. However, if your discoloration is a bit more noticeable, you may be advised to schedule additional visits for professional teeth whitening.

Offering Recommendations for Post-Treatment Care

In order to maintain results, it’s best to avoid foods or beverages that could re-stain your teeth for the first few days after treatment. You’ll also be more likely to enjoy the results longer if you minimize your consumption of:

• Tea or black coffee
• Tomato products and dishes
• Yellow mustard
• Certain candies with darker pigments – e.g., chocolate, caramel, fudge, etc.
• Red wine

If you are a smoker, consider ditching this habit if you want to get the most out of your teeth whitening treatments. Also, be careful with certain fruits, like black grapes.

According to the American Association of Orthodontists, teeth whitening is one of the most commonly requested elective dental techniques. It’s definitely worth the effort to find out if this treatment could be right for you if you’re not dissatisfied with the quality of your smile because of tooth discoloration. Contact us today to learn more about teeth whitening and how you may benefit from this process. 

White teeth have always portrayed a healthy person. A healthy smile means you are overall in good health to someone. Your smile is said to be a gateway to your heart as well. A big happy, toothy, white smile always gets the girl right? Maybe if you are 007. It seems like recently, everyone has dashingly white teeth. Some professional home remedies are on the market today and that is what the consumer is buying and doing. Home remedies have become more popular in the last few years. Essential oils are gaining notoriety for calming nerves and some behavioral health issues. Using some essential oils in recipes also brings about their medicinal purpose and but their flavor as well. Controversial CBD (cannabis) oils are being discussed in most news arenas and social media. Diet programs and plant-based eating are getting quite a bit of attention too. This brings about other home remedies that are free to little cost.

Do it yourself tooth whitening remedies are found on social media platforms and recipe websites. These are offering quick fixes using household items. Some of these include peroxide, baking soda, charcoal, and whitening kinds of toothpaste. Some of the recipes are to put baking soda directly on your toothbrush and brush your teeth that way three or four times a week. There is nothing wrong with this method. However, it may not taste very good. Another remedy is to mix peroxide in with the baking soda and some peppermint essential oil making your own toothpaste. The problem is that the peroxide can damage the enamel on your teeth making them sensitive to hot and cold and eventually prone to decay. Charcoal remedies include dipping the toothbrush into activated charcoal and brushing your teeth that way. This may work but may also cause some negative effects such as flavor, staining, and some other issues can arise with using straight charcoal. I am sure there are others but these are the ones we have researched for your informational use.

Nothing works better than our tooth whitening methods. When done under a dentist’s supervision the best results will come about. Many over the counter products are similar to what our office has, however, this whitening system is stronger than any over the counter product and comes with a dentist’s supervision along with it. Making it a safer and more successful treatment. The cost is actually about the same as in a store. The thing with buying it in the store is it is not approved by the American Dental Association (ADA). Some are however, they are not under the supervision of a dentist.

First, we start with an impression or mold of your teeth. Then we make a plaster cast of the teeth to create a custom fit tray that the whitening gel can be put in and then over your teeth. We will do the first treatment here in the office and then teach you how and when to do them at home. You will go home with the custom made tray, whitening gel, and specific instructions. Then we will schedule regular check-ups to make sure it is working correctly. At these visits, the assistant and dentist will check the shade (color) differences from week to week. Pictures will be taken at each appointment and used to compare the progress you are making. Using our system will all but guarantee excellent results. We can’t always guarantee that the results will be what you desire but most often the results will be clear and very evident in a before and after photo.

Teeth whitening strips have grown increasingly popular over the past decade because they are often a cheap way to whiten your teeth at home. In fact, the “do-it-yourself” genre transcends dental care and has become a viable way to get things done across all walks of life. However, it’s important to assess whether the advantages of products like do-it-yourself teeth whitening kits have more advantages than dangers. Let’s explore this topic in greater detail.

About Teeth Whitening Strips

Generally speaking, teeth whitening strips typically include either peroxide or bleach to remove stains and restore the natural color of your teeth. Interestingly, these are the same ingredients used to lighten the hair. The actual strip on which the peroxide or bleach are contained is usually made of a substance called “polyethylene,” which is a type of plastic. A thin plastic strip makes the teeth whitening process easier and more effective because it allows you to apply the ingredients directly to your teeth in accordance with the instructions provided. How long the strips must remain on your teeth will vary from one product to another.

Advantages of Teeth Whitening Strips

Everyone wants a bright smile, which is why teeth whitening strips have become so popular. Some people choose teeth whitening strips because they think they can’t afford a teeth whitening procedure provided by a dentist, which is not necessarily the case. It’s important to understand that teeth whitening strips are less expensive because they are made of ingredients and materials that are cheaper to manufacture. Which can be an advantage, depending on your perspective.

People who use teeth whitening strips also appreciate the fact that they only require use for an average of two times a day, over a period of about two weeks. Teeth whitening can last for several months, which is another attractive feature of the procedure regardless of the method used. Depending on the reason why your teeth are discolored, there’s a good chance that a teeth whitening kit can improve your smile.

Potential Dangers of Teeth Whitening Strips

While most teeth whitening strips are safe, there are important considerations if you’re thinking about using them. For starters, a decision to use teeth whitening strips is best made in consultation with your dentist. Why? Because we can help to determine whether the discoloration of your teeth is an issue that can be resolved with teeth whitening strips or requires a different procedure.

There are some teeth whitening strips that are not as safe as others. In fact, if you purchase a teeth whitening kit that contains chlorine dioxide, there’s a possibility of permanent damage to the enamel of your teeth. Simply put, chlorine dioxide is used to disinfect swimming pools, so you can only imagine the kind of damage that it can do to your teeth.

When harsh chemicals are used on your teeth, there’s a good chance that it will destroy the surface of the enamel, which will increase your chances of tooth decay. What might start out as a simple teeth whitening process can result in painful tooth decay that opens the door to many other issues that could have been prevented by consulting your dentist?

Even when chlorine dioxide is not contained in your teeth whitening strips, there’s a chance of damaging your teeth if the directions are not followed. There’s also a chance of harming your gum tissue, which can also cause long-term problems that could have been prevented. While there is no doubt that teeth whitening strips are convenient, it’s still important to consult with your dentist to make sure you are doing what’s best for your unique situation.

Your long-term oral hygiene is important, and we are always here to answer any questions that you have. 

Who doesn’t want teeth that are a healthy shade of white? There are a number of options for whitening teeth. Some of them are reserved for the dental office while others can be done at home. Here are some basics about current treatment options and how they compare.

Over the Counter Whitening Strips

It’s possible to purchase whitening strips in just about any pharmacy or supermarket without a prescription. Most of the strips require that you place them on the teeth for a specified period of time. You will need to administer treatments daily. While this approach will take longer than others, there are whitening strips that really work and they are relatively inexpensive.

One potential drawback is that no one is monitoring your teeth to determine if the treatments are triggering any other dental issues. That’s one reason we recommend having treatments under our care.

Trays and Gels from the Pharmacy

You can also purchase whitening gels and trays from most pharmacies and use them at home. Like the strips, you are likely to see results eventually. Be patient and make sure you read the usage instructions carefully before starting the treatments.

The process usually calls for applying the gel, then fitting the tray over your teeth. Expect to wear the tray for at least a couple of hours. Some products require that you wear them for a longer time, such as overnight. Depending on the strength of the ingredients used in the gel, it could be a couple of weeks before you notice a difference.

Trays and Gels From the Dentist

If the idea of using a gel with trays sounds appealing but you want faster results, you can come in and allow us to supply you with the same setup. The primary difference is that the gel will be stronger than most over the counter products. That means you will need to keep the tray on for shorter periods of time and you could begin to see results within days. Seeing us also provides an opportunity to check the condition of your teeth before you begin the treatments.

Toothpaste and Mouthwash Products

There are plenty of whitening toothpaste products on the market today. You’ll also find some mouthwash products that claim to help whiten teeth. Like other over the counter approaches, these products do contain ingredients that help to whiten the teeth. The results will take time to appear, but in the interim, those same products will freshen your breath and help to remove bacteria from the mouth.

Professional Dental Bleaching

The most efficient approach to whitening teeth is found in the dental office. You can arrange for our team to provide dental bleaching. Most treatments will take an hour or slightly less to perform. They are also more expensive than any of the over the counter products. The upside is that the bleaching is done under our care, so we are monitoring your teeth the entire time. Some patients find that they notice a difference after a single treatment.

Laser Teeth Whitening

You may have heard of laser teeth whitening. What you may not know is that this strategy is most often used in conjunction with dental bleaching. We apply the bleach to your teeth and then use laser light to activate and enhance the results. Assuming you have basically healthy teeth, this is a good way to receive more benefits from each bleaching session and achieve the look you want in less time.

What approach to teeth whitening is best for you? Talk with us and we’ll go over the pros and cons associated with each one. After you understand what to expect and how long the process will take, it will be easier to settle on the process that’s best for you. 

Dental implants continue to grow in popularity. According to a study sponsored by the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, an average of 500,000 patients annually receive implants of some type. Our goal is to ensure every patient who comes through our doors gets what they need. That includes dental implants. Is this solution right for you? Here are a few examples of situations that can be remedied with this type of dental procedure.

Losing One or More Teeth in an Accident

Losing healthy teeth in some type of accident is devastating enough. The idea that you will have to wear dentures the rest of your life only makes things worse. Implants are an alternative that you want to consider. As we’ll explain, it’s possible to use an implant to fill the empty socket and cover it with a cap that looks just like the now-missing tooth. That implant will also function just like the tooth you lost.

Replacing a Severely Damaged Tooth

Perhaps you have a tooth that’s cracked or chipped. Attempting to correct the problem with veneers and caps will not be enough this time. The tooth will have to be removed and replaced with something.

While you could consider the idea of a bridge, that means altering the teeth on each side of the gap. An implant would fill in space and not require any grinding or other changes to the surrounding teeth. We can ensure the implant is securely in place and that the cap looks just like a perfectly proportioned tooth.

You’re Not Happy With Your Dentures or Partials

You lost all or most of your teeth some time back. At the time, you opted for dentures or partial dentures. The problem is that they are not a good choice for you. Between the slipping and the fact that they have never really felt comfortable around the gums, you’d like to try something else. That solution is dental implants.

When you no longer have all of your upper or lower teeth, a process known as implant-supported dentures is worth considering. We embed four to six implants in the jaw and attached a denture plate to those implants. This procedure does not irritate the gums, you don’t have to use adhesives, and the plate looks like a full set of upper or lower teeth.

If you have a partial but would like to get rid of it, we can use individual implants to fill in space. The caps are customized to ensure the scale is just right. Best of all, you can brush the caps just as you would brush your remaining natural teeth.

There’s Evidence of Some Bone Loss in the Jaw

Since losing the last of your natural teeth, the contour of your jaw has started to shift. This is natural since the tooth roots are no longer present to help keep the bone from shrinking inward. When we install implants into the spaces once occupied by natural teeth, the shifting stops. You may even notice that the slightly sunken look along the lower part of the face is a little more filled out once the implants are in position.

You Have a Cavity That Can’t Be Repaired With a Filling and Cap

Perhaps you had a cavity filled years ago but it’s now loose. A closer look confirms that the tooth is basically a shell now. We could replace the filling and install a new cap, but the result would not last that long. A better solution is to remove the remainder of the tooth and replace it with an implant. Once that’s done, the implant could last the rest of your life.

An Infection Means You Are About to Lose Several Teeth

Gum infections can be severe enough to require removing several teeth. When that happens, dental implants are the perfect replacement. After ensuring the infection is cured, our team will install the implants and begin preparing custom caps to fit each one. Along with no longer dealing with the pain, the implants and caps will ensure your smile looks great.

Do you have questions about dental implants? We are happy to help. Call us today and schedule a consultation and insurance information. If you have a condition that merits the use of implants, we’ll talk about your options and what you should expect. When you’re ready, we’ll ensure the work is done quickly and expertly.