What is teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental treatment that improves the brightness of your smile by bleaching your discolored tooth enamel. Using specially formulated solutions and customized trays, you can whiten the color of your teeth by several shades from the comfort of your home.
Teeth whitening treatments are an excellent solution for those who are happy with the shape and alignment of their teeth but have yellow, grey, or discolored enamel.
While teeth whitening treatments are effective for natural teeth, they don’t work well for dental restorations such as fillings, crowns, or dental implants.
What causes tooth discoloration?
Over time, stains naturally accumulate on the surface of your teeth, causing discoloration. Other factors that could impact the natural color of your teeth include:
- Drinking coffee or tea
- Drinking red wine
- Eating berries
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
- Oral trauma
- Certain medications
Teeth whitening is a temporary treatment. To extend the results of your teeth whitening treatments, you can avoid foods and drinks that cause stains and get regular maintenance treatments every few years.
Am I a candidate for teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening treatments aren’t ideal for every patient. Your dentist may suggest other cosmetic dental options if you are self-conscious about the color of your teeth, but:
- Are under age 16
- Have periodontal disease
- Have decaying teeth
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Can see the roots of your teeth
- Have multiple dental restorations
- Have discoloration from medications or injuries
Your dentist works closely with you to make a plan that ensures you are confident in your smile, even if teeth whitening is not the best option for you.
What does teeth whitening involve?
Professional teeth whitening requires two visits. During your first appointment, your dentist makes molds of your teeth to create customized plastic trays that you use for your at-home treatment.
At your second visit, you try on the trays for proper fit, and your dental specialist makes adjustments if necessary. You also receive instructions about how to use your at-home teeth whitening system.
Typically, you wear the fitted trays with a whitening solution either twice a day for 30 minutes or overnight. You use the teeth whitening treatments for up to two weeks, depending on how white you want your teeth to be. It is normal to experience tooth sensitivity during the time you are whitening your teeth, but this subsides after you stop treatment.
To see if teeth whitening treatments can help improve your smile, call or schedule an appointment online with CaliDental today.
