Everything To Know About Teeth Whitening

There are many dental cosmetic procedures that can improve the quality of your smile. Many are expensive, but teeth whitening is an affordable choice that can give you a beautiful smile. If you would like to know more, keep reading.

How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

Teeth whitening is often referred to as teeth bleaching, but there is no actual bleach involved. Teeth whitening products typically use hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Both are excellent at destroying stains by breaking the chemical bonds that keep the stains stuck to your enamel. Fluoride may also be added to the solution. Fluoride doesn't help remove stains, but it does strengthen enamel.

Teeth whitening is best for organic stains, which are caused by foods, beverages, and tobacco. Non-organic stains like discoloration from trauma may not benefit as well from teeth whitening.

Do You Have to Choose In-Office Whitening?

There are many teeth whitening options to consider, but the most effective and efficient is in-office whitening. During the procedure, the dentist applies the peroxide solution, and they may use a special light to assist during treatment. In-office whitening is fast, and you may only need one treatment to get the results you want.

An alternative to in-office whitening is professional home whitening. This is a more affordable option to in-office whitening, and you can do it at home, but it will take a little longer. You use the same solution as in-office whitening, and special trays are molded to your mouth, so the peroxide solution can reach every nook and cranny. Other options like over-the-counter products are not nearly as effective and take a long time to show results.

How Long Do the Results Last?

Teeth whitening results don't last forever. Your teeth naturally develop stains as you expose them to foods and beverages, especially stain-causing foods/beverages like berries, coffee, red wine, etc. Therefore, your teeth whitening results depend on your personal habits.

If you avoid stain-causing foods and beverages as much as possible after teeth whitening treatment, and you continue to brush and floss regularly, your teeth will stay whiter longer than someone who goes back to drinking coffee every day and only brushes once a day.

In-office professional teeth whitening provides the fastest and best results, but take-home kits from your dentist can also help. Over-the-counter products are often ineffective and/or take too long to provide results. If you would like to know more, or if you are ready to schedule a teeth-whitening appointment, contact a dentist in your area today.