What is tooth whitening and how does it work?

Your teeth get stained from the foods and drinks you consume everyday. Also, as you age you wear away the white enamel layer, thus making your teeth look more yellow. Here are a few ways you can professionally whiten your smile on your next visit to the dentist.

Why do teeth stain?

There are two types of stains : extrinsic and intrinsic. The extrinsic stain is considered a surface stain, whereas the intrinsic is deeper down. If you drink red wine, coffee, eat chocolate or smoke, then your are more likely to create staining on your teeth. This is because teeth are like sponges that absorb a little bit of the color from food and drink. Over time, it will cause darkening of your teeth.

How can I get rid of the stains?

You can get rid of surface stains by using a whitening toothpaste that has special abrasive pearls in it. This way every time you brush your teeth you are effectively removing those extrinsic stains. For deeper staining, a professional whitening treatment is more effective at getting you the results you want.

What is a professional whitening treatment & what should I expect?

There are two types of professional whitening treatments: in-office and take-home.

In-office whitening typically takes about an hour, and may use a special blue light to help activate the whitening material. This treatment will jump start your whitening process and may cause sensitivity. The sensitivity can last for 24-48 hours.  A special dam is used to protect your gums, and the material is placed on your teeth. Your West Palm Beach Concierge Cosmetic Dentist uses the fastest whitening treatment in the world. And no light is necessary! The material is on your teeth for a total of only 24 minutes. That’s it and you’ll leave with a brighter whiter smile!

Take-home whitening is when a set of custom whitening trays is made for you. Then you place whitening material in the trays for 30 minutes a day over a period of 2-4 weeks until you’ve reached your desired level of whiteness. This may cause sensitivity as well. You may periodically do maintenance whitening when you see that your teeth are starting to change color again.

Either way, only a professional whitening treatment is fully supervised and may only be prescribed by a professional dentist. Do not be fooled by kiosks or people who do it in a spa/salon setting. You are not getting the same quality of material or level of treatment for the price you are paying!

Am I a candidate for a professional whitening treatment?

You must first have a consultation with a dentist to find out if you are in fact a candidate for a professional whitening treatment. Usually you are not a candidate if you have gum disease and/or recession; if your teeth are stained from tetracycline use (gray/brown hue);  if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in the whitening material.

Will all of my teeth be whiter?

Remember that only natural tooth structure will whiten – any tooth colored fillings or crowns you have will not change color.  Also if you’ve tried the treatment before and didn’t get the results you were looking for, then veneers or crowns might be your best option to get the white smile you’ve always wanted.

Our patients love the results they get with the in-office professional tooth whitening treatment, and they love to show off their new, brighter smile every chance they get. So don’t worry about posting to Instagram or Facebook – your West Palm Beach Concierge Cosmetic Dentist will help you get the shiny, white smile you deserve!