We all want a sparkling, white smile but there’s more to teeth whitening than what’s on the surface. While a white smile doesn’t always mean a healthy smile, a healthy smile isn’t always white. White teeth can be a good indicator of good oral health, but perfectly healthy teeth can still have a yellow hue.
More important than the color of your teeth are the things you can’t really see. Infection, decay, and plaque or tartar accumulation are all things that impact dental health but aren’t readily noticeable in the mirror.
At Dental Depot, we want to help you achieve a beautiful and healthy smile. In addition to preventative and restorative dental treatments like routine cleanings and exams, dental sealants, and fillings—the things that help keep your mouth healthy—we also offer a variety of teeth whitening treatments, so your smile can look as good as it feels.
Many factors can play a role in the color of your teeth, including everything from genetics to lifestyle. Most discolorations result from stains, but if your tooth has suddenly changed color to shades of brown, gray, or black, or you’ve recently suffered trauma to a tooth, this can indicate a more serious issue, and you should call your dentist.
Teeth can be stained as a result of the following:
Most stains fall into two categories: extrinsic and intrinsic stains. Extrinsic stains, the most common tooth stain, come from the intake of coffee, soda, wines, and even some foods. Tobacco can also cause extrinsic stains. These stains are all on the surface of your teeth and are easier to remove with whitening treatments.
Intrinsic stains appear when the dentin, the inner substance of your tooth, changes to a darker or more yellow shade. Exposure to too much fluoride as a child when your permanent teeth begin to erupt, or even dental trauma, can affect the already yellow-hued dentin inside your teeth. Occasionally, medications such as chemotherapy or radiation treatments can change dentin color.
Thinning enamel is another factor to consider when determining what stains your teeth may face. While technically not a stain, as the enamel thins, more yellowish dentin beneath shows through. It’s natural to see this sort of change as you get older, but it can be helped with whitening treatments.
Teeth whitening treatments are available in over-the-counter products and as a professional dental service. They use either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to bleach the enamel and dentin to make white teeth appear.
Professional teeth whitening treatments are available only from your dentist but can be administered as a take-home product or an in-office chairside procedure. Professional treatments use more potent chemicals and bleaching agents than over-the-counter options but can produce better, longer-lasting results.
It’s important to note that teeth whitening only addresses the aesthetics of your smile, not your health. Because your teeth are whiter doesn’t mean you can forego good daily oral hygiene or essential dental care like routine cleanings, exams, and restorative care.
Before getting professional teeth whitening, you’ll need to come in for a consultation. First, the dentist will determine the health of your mouth and if you are a good candidate for teeth whitening. Remember – the whiteness of teeth is subjective and has little to no impact on the health of your current smile. Another thing to consider is any existing or future crowns, bridges, or fillings you may have. Whitening treatments can’t change the color of these artificial surfaces, so they become more evident after whitening.
Other factors that might preclude a person from getting teeth whitening include:
If you are pregnant or lactating, your dentist may recommend waiting until you aren’t before whitening your teeth.
Once you’ve decided to get professional teeth whitening, your dentist can help you determine your teeth’ shade and where you want them to be.
While whitening is safe, one side effect some people experience is sensitivity in the days after treatment. Sensitivity can be caused by the peroxides used in the treatment and should go away on its own soon. Additionally, if you continue whitening at home with trays, ensure the fit of your trays is comfortable and does not irritate the gums.
Teeth whitening is a common cosmetic dentistry procedure that can provide immediate results to help you achieve a whiter, brighter smile. Whitening treatments use either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to bleach the enamel and dentin to give the appearance of white teeth.
When you arrive at your whitening consultation, your dentist can help you determine what shade your teeth currently are and where you want them to be. Remember – the whiteness of teeth is subjective and has little to no impact on the health of your current smile.
Another thing to consider during your consultation is any existing or future crowns, bridges or fillings you may have. Whitening treatments can’t change the color of these artificial surfaces and so it’s important to consider if they show when you smile, or if you want to whiten before you decide on the shade of an upcoming restoration.
While whitening is safe, one side effect some people experience is sensitivity in the days after treatment. Sensitivity can be caused by the peroxides used in the treatment and should go away on its own soon. Additionally, if you use to continue whitening at home with trays, make sure the fit of your trays are comfortable and do not cause irritation in the gums.
At Dental Depot we offer both chair-side whitening with Opalescence Boost to help you safely achieve noticeably whiter teeth in just one visit. Because Opalescence is chemically activated, you don’t have to worry about any bright or uncomfortable lights during your whitening treatment.
Once you’ve completed your consultation and decided what shade you’d like to get to, we’ll get started. For this visit, you’ll use both a lip and cheek retractor and a bite block to help keep your lips, tongue and gums out of the whitening gel. Then, a special barrier will be applied over your gums to make sure the whitening gel stays in place. Once applied, the gel will work in about 20-minute increments to visibly whiten your smile. We’ll suction off the gel and check our shade guide. If additional rounds of gel are needed, up to three 20-minute sessions can be completed in the same visit. Once we’re done, the barriers are removed and you can check out your new smile.
Want to continue whitening at home or don’t have the time to do chair-side whitening? No problem! We also offer Opalescence Go prefilled whitening trays and custom-fit trays as well.
There’s more to brushing your teeth twice daily for two minutes than just your oral health – regular brushing is the key to maintaining a sparkling smile. So long as you’re brushing like you’re supposed to and flossing once daily, you’ll know you’re doing a good job handling any regular stains you might encounter. And, with twice yearly cleanings with a dental hygienist, the majority of surface stains can be wiped away without the use of whitening treatments.
Serious about stopping stains? Be aware of what you’re eating and drinking that can affect the shade of your smile. While you don’t have to avoid teeth-staining substances entirely, you can also rinse with water after a meal or a coffee to wash away any residue.
If these steps aren’t giving you the results you want, it might be worth considering whitening treatments, available at Dental Depot.
Most stains fall into two categories: extrinsic and intrinsic stains. Extrinsic stains, which are the most common kind of tooth stain, come from the intake of coffee, soda, wines and even some foods. Tobacco can also cause extrinsic stains. These stains are all on the surface of your teeth and are easier to remove with whitening treatments.
Intrinsic stains appear when the dentin, the inner substance of your tooth, changes to a darker or more yellow shade. Exposure to too much fluoride as a child when your permanent teeth begin to erupt or even dental trauma can affect the already yellow-hued dentin inside your teeth. Occasionally, medications can change the color of dentin, such as chemotherapy or radiation treatments.
Thinning enamel is another factor to consider when determining what sort of stains your teeth may be facing. While technically not a stain, as the enamel thins, more of the yellowish dentin beneath shows through. It’s completely natural to see this sort of change as you get older, but it can be helped with whitening treatments.