A number of factors can take their toll on the appearance of your teeth. Everything from smoking to drinking coffee every day can make your teeth look yellowed, dingy, and dirty. Once these stains are set in, they can be difficult to remove even if you use over-the-counter whitening toothpaste.
When you do not want a dingy and dirty smile, you might wonder what your options are for getting your teeth white and healthy-looking once again. Your best choice would be to undergo professional Teeth Whitening at your dentist’s office.
How Dental Whitening Works
When you visit your dentist for Teeth Whitening services, you might wonder what will occur during your appointment. For the most part, the appointment will proceed like any other dental appointment, at least for the first portion of the visit. Your dentist will examine your teeth, perhaps take x-rays, and then clean and floss your teeth thoroughly.
The next part of the visit will involve whitening your teeth and remove tough stains. Before the process begins, your dentist will put a protective shield over your gums. The shield will probably be made from either plastic or rubber so it does not cause irritation or pain when it is in place over the gums. The shield prevents the whitening agent from coming into contact with the sensitive gum tissue where it could cause burns and sores.
After the shields are put in place over your gums, the dentist will then put the whitening agent on your teeth. The agent could be either hydrogen peroxide or a professional-grade dental bleach. The agent that is used will depend on the types of stains you want to be removed and your overall whitening goals.
The peroxide or bleach will remain on your teeth for a few minutes while it lifts stains and whitens your teeth. After the dentist feels that the stains are sufficiently eliminated or lightened, he or she will rinse your teeth thoroughly. If the stains are gone, you do not have to undergo any more whitening services. However, if the stains are still there or if they are not as light as you would prefer, you may need to undergo another whitening appointment in the near future to achieve your desired results.
Once your teeth are whitened, it is important that you avoid habits that left them stained in the first place. You might consume less coffee each day. You also may stop smoking, chewing tobacco, or using other substances that can cause stains on your teeth.
Your dentist may also advise you to use over-the-counter whitening toothpaste to brush your teeth at least twice a day. While not as powerful as the whitening agents used in the dentist’s office, this toothpaste can fight minor stains and help you maintain the results that you achieved by undergoing professional whitening services at the dentist.
A stained and dingy smile can make you look older and negatively impact your confidence. You can get a healthier, whiter smile by having your teeth professionally whitened at the dentist’s office.