Even when you are diligent about daily tooth brushing and flossing, your teeth may not be as white and bright as you’d like.
This is normal, as teeth can become yellow or dull looking as we age and make individual lifestyle choices.
The good news is that professional teeth whitening can bring your smile back to its gleaming perfection with safe and effective practices.
If you’re undecided about whether you should move forward with treatment, check out the information below to learn the benefits of professional teeth whitening.
What Is Tooth Whitening?
Tooth whitening or bleaching is an effective method of removing stains and reducing discoloration of teeth.
This discoloration is caused by age, certain foods and drinks such as tea or coffee, as well smoking, which can discolour and darken your teeth’s appearance.
Teeth whitening, like most other cosmetic treatments, is done to improve an individual’s outward appearance and enhance their smile’s natural radiance.
How Are Teeth Whitened?
Prior to starting your treatment, your dentist will make a record of the current shade of your teeth. Then, your teeth are polished to remove plaque and other debris from the surface.
After that is done the dentist applies a whitening solution on the surface of the teeth which usually contains hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. A lot of the whitening products must be accompanied by a laser or light to activate the peroxide.
After, your teeth are rinsed, and fluoride may be applied to reduce sensitivity. Additional visits may be scheduled until you get the shade you desire.
Alternatively, if at-home treatments appeal more to you, innovative techniques have allowed patients to do so with a custom-made mouthguard and bleaching gels. While whitening at home does happen over an extended period of time, it should be noted that patients find that results last longer than infrequent visits to the dentist.
Why You Shouldn’t Whiten with a Box
Some home kits that are not provided by dentists don’t contain enough of the whitening product to be effective. More generally, if a dental professional is not doing the whitening, the mouthguard provided may not fit properly so some of the bleaching gel may leak out onto your gums and into your mouth. This may cause blistering and sensitivity, and if swallowed can cause more problems.
If you opt for teeth whitening carried out in beauty salons by staff without any training or dental qualifications, you could be at risk as this is illegal and these procedures can carry risks to your oral health.
If you’re looking to achieve a bright smile, then your safest bet is to work with a cosmetic dentist. Their work is made with enamel strength in mind, meaning your oral health won’t be put at risk. As well, patients can choose between in-office whitening sessions or take-home whitening kits you can trust.
What Are You Waiting For?
There is no need to wait for a beautiful smile. Teeth whitening, when done with a professional, can offer long-lasting confidence and get you back to smiling ear-to-ear.
Whether you have more questions or want to get right to it, the experts at Portrait Dental are ready to help restore your glistening smile with safe and effective teeth whitening treatments. Give us a call today to book your next appointment.