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Show Your Teeth Some Respect

Think about how many times per day you rely on your teeth. You use them to chew breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. You press your tongue against them to make certain sounds when you speak. There's really no doubt about it — your teeth are important, and they deserve your respect. You can pay them that respect by visiting your dentist for regular cleaning and checkup appointments. You should also call at the first sign of dental pain, tooth discoloration, or other oral health changes. Read more about dentists and dentistry here on this blog, where we dive deep into related topics.



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Show Your Teeth Some Respect

4 Things You Wanted To Know About In-Office Teeth Whitening

by April Myers

Many people have beautiful, white teeth. But you may have noticed changes to your smile as you've aged. It's common for teeth to turn yellow, brown, or grey as time goes by. If you're unhappy with the color of your smile when you look in the mirror, your dentist can solve your problem. They can provide teeth whitening services that will brighten your teeth. Here are four things you probably wanted to know about in-office teeth whitening treatments.

1. Your dentist can whiten your teeth by degrees.

Most people want dramatic, noticeable results when they get their teeth whitened, but too much whitening can give teeth an artificial look. In order to avoid over-whitening, your dentist can lighten your teeth by degrees. If you choose this method, your dentist will lift your tooth color by a few shades over two or more appointments. You can feel free to stop whenever you're happy with the end result.

2. In-office teeth whitening can lift deep stains.

Many things can stain your teeth, from the coffee you drink to the foods you eat. Some stains only affect the surface of your tooth enamel. Other stains work their way into the deeper layers of your teeth. These stains can't be removed by simply brushing your teeth with whitening toothpaste. Fortunately, the tooth bleaching solution used in professional whitening treatments can remove these stains. If you've tried to whiten your teeth at home without much luck, a professional tooth whitening treatment will likely give you better results.

3. The light used during teeth whitening treatments is very bright.

Your dentist will paint a thin layer of bleaching solution onto your teeth. The active ingredient in this solution is hydrogen peroxide. In-office whitening treatments can have high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, which makes them very effective. In order to activate the hydrogen peroxide, your dentist will need to shine a bright, blue light on it. This light is very bright and can cause discomfort if you look directly at it. Your dentist will give you red-tinted glasses to neutralize some of the light, but you may still want to close your eyes until this part of the treatment is finished.

4. Sensitivity is normal.

Patients are typically told to expect increased sensitivity for several weeks following their teeth whitening procedure. You may begin to feel more sensitive right away. Some patients feel an uncomfortable sensation similar to biting into a cold ice cream cone during their whitening treatment. If you find the extra sensitivity bothersome, your dentist can recommend a toothpaste containing potassium nitrate, which will reduce the sensation to more manageable levels.

For more information on teeth whitening, reach out to a company like Accent On Dentistry - Rowena R Martir DMD.