Summary
Our smiles play a crucial role in making an affirmative first impression. Showing off your beautiful smile can also make you feel better about yourself.
Thinning of enamel with growing age is a natural process. It exposes the underlying yellow dentin, giving a yellowish appearance. Despite maintaining good oral hygiene, you can experience yellowing of teeth. Regular habits and dietary practices can impact the color of your teeth.
Teeth whitening is popular among adults wishing to get a sparkling smile. Compared with other teeth whitening products, professional tooth whitening by your dentist can give you dramatic results.
We understand that choosing to undergo cosmetic surgery can be intimidating. This article will help you decide if this straightforward procedure suits you.
In this article, we will give you brief insights about-
- Brief Discussion on Teeth Whitening Procedures
- Importance of Professional Tooth Whitening on Your Oral Health
- Tips To Ensure Long-Term Whitening Results
- Knowing The Limitations of the Procedure
Continue reading as we learn more about the procedure in the following sections.
Tooth Whitening: What is it?
Stains can often affect the whole tooth or appear as spots or lines on the surface. They can occur inside the tooth, be intrinsic stains owing to health conditions, or as a side effect of any medication.
Or they can just remain on the surface as extrinsic stains. Irrespective of the type of stain, teeth whitening procedures can lighten or remove it. They can be done at home or your dentist’s office. Teeth whitening products commonly contain peroxide-based bleaching agents.
However, users opting for different whitening procedures must understand the significance of their options. Stats suggest that at-home whitening kits contain 3% to 20% peroxide, while professional systems contain 15% to 43%. This makes professional whitening a more suitable option over at-home whitening kits.
Steps Involved in the Whitening Procedure
During your initial consultation, the dentists in Keller will check for any underlying issues and discuss your whitening goals. You will then be able to choose your desired shade. Before whitening, your teeth are thoroughly cleaned to remove plaque and tartar.
A protective barrier shields your gums from the whitening agents. The whitening gel is applied to your teeth and activated with a laser or infrared light. Depending on the formula, it stays on for 15-30 minutes.
Afterward, you rinse off the gel, and a fluoride treatment is applied to reduce sensitivity and strengthen your enamel.
Importance of Professional Tooth Whitening on Your Oral Health
Professional teeth whitening is not just about aesthetics; it helps promote oral health. Here’s how it’ll benefit you:
1. Enhanced Oral Hygiene
Investing in professional teeth whitening will help you take better care of your teeth. Your bright smile will motivate you to brush and floss regularly and visit your dentist for regular check-ups.
2. Safe and Effective Treatment
Cheap over-the-counter whitening products can cause tooth sensitivity and give you uneven results. Professional teeth whitening by a dentist is safer, more effective, tailored to your needs, and reduces the risk of sensitivity and gum irritation.
3. Comprehensive Oral Health Check
A crucial step in whitening is examining your oral health for issues like cavities or gum disease. Your dentist will treat any problem before whitening your teeth to ensure proper oral health and prevent complications from untreated dental conditions.Â
4. Long-lasting Results
Professional teeth whitening in keller provides long-lasting results as compared to over-the-counter products. The high-quality whitening agents penetrate deep into the enamel, getting rid of the most stubborn stains.
5. Prevention of Future Stains
The dentist not only removes stains but also teaches you practices that help prevent future discoloration. They provide dietary recommendations, proper guidance about maintaining your newly whitened teeth, and habits to avoid. This ensures longevity and a healthy and beautiful smile.
Tips for Long-Term Whitening Results
Professional teeth whitening can last anywhere between 6 months to 3 years. But you can follow some tips to extend the results.
1. Follow Oralcare Regime
Brushing your teeth twice using fluoride toothpaste helps remove plaque and prevent any stains from forming. It helps keep your teeth healthy and white. Incorporating a whitening toothpaste in your oral care routine once or twice a week is an effective way to maintain your whitening results.
2. Limit Your Consumptions
Limit the intake of coffee, tea, red wine, and darker berries. Pigments like tannin, malvidin, or cyanidin found in them can stain your teeth over time. After consuming them, rinse your mouth with water afterward. Using straw to drink these beverages minimizes direct contact with your teeth and reduces the risk of discoloration.
3. Say NO to Tobacco
Enjoying your beautiful, brightened smile means giving up on tobacco. Tar and nicotine present in tobacco products can stain your teeth yellow.
4. Stay Hydrated
Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your body hydrated and remove food particles and bacteria that can lead to staining. A hydrated body also promotes saliva production, which naturally cleanses your mouth.
Natural Whitening of Teeth – Is it Possible?
Professional teeth whitening gives the best results, but there are other home remedies that you can follow as well. Following some diet tips can help you whiten your teeth naturally and increase the lifespan of your results.
Here are some tips to help you through:
- Include fruits and dairy products in your meals, enhancing your whitening results. Strawberries, apples, carrots, pineapples, and papaya have different acids, like malic and citric acids, and other natural teeth-whitening compounds, like bromelin. These compounds remove stains, scrub away plaque, and break down plaque.
- Dairy products like cheese and yogurt contain calcium, phosphorus, protein, and essential probiotics that strengthen your teeth and prevent the growth of any harmful bacteria.
- Vegetables like celery, broccoli, nuts, and seeds act as natural abrasives that scrub teeth and increase saliva production. They also contain essential minerals like iron that are good for overall health.
Limitations of Teeth Whitening Procedure
1. Best for natural teeth:
Teeth whitening gives the best results on natural teeth. However, whitening procedures are ineffective if teeth have restorations like crowns, veneers, fillings, or dentures.
2. Temporary results:
The results are temporary and can fade within a few months to a few years. Regular touch-ups and proper maintenance are vital to maintain the desired level of whiteness. Besides, teeth with different shades or deep stains might not respond to teeth whitening properly or provide uneven results.
3. Increased sensitivity:
A common side effect of teeth whitening procedures is increased tooth sensitivity, which usually subsides within a few days to a week. However, in some cases, it might persist. If the whitening gel comes in contact with gums or other soft dental tissues, resulting in irritation.
Takeaway
- The teeth whitening procedure amplifies your smile and confidence.
- Professional teeth whitening can be expensive as it is a cosmetic procedure.
- The teeth whitening results are not permanent, and they don’t replace the need for regular hygiene practices.
- Include fruits and dairy products in your meals, enhancing your whitening results.
- Excessive usage of whitening agents can damage your enamel and increase tooth sensitivity, so be careful!
- Tooth whitening is an effective procedure for most individuals and could do magic for your smile! Visit our experts at Keller Family Dental and experience the change today.
