What is teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening is a popular way to make teeth look brighter, which gives you a more radiant and confident smile. Here at Green Apple Dental Care, we are proud to provide excellent teeth whitening services led by dental experts like dentists, dental hygienists, and oral health therapists. In this article, we’ll delve into the causes of tooth staining, the treatments available, and why it’s crucial to seek professional care for achieving a dazzling smile. Moreover, we will explain the benefits of professional teeth whitening and why it’s better than DIY methods. So, let’s explore the reasons behind tooth discoloration and discover how our experienced team can help you achieve whiter teeth you’ve always wanted!
What causes tooth staining?
Tooth staining can happen because of different things. Some of these factors are:
- Foods and Drinks: Certain drinks like coffee, tea, and red wine can stain teeth. They have strong colors that stick to the white enamel and make it look darker.
- Tobacco: Tobacco products contain chemicals like tar and nicotine that can make teeth turn yellow. As people get older, the outer layer of enamel may get thinner, showing the yellowish dentine below, which makes the teeth look even darker.
- Traumatic Injuries: If teeth get hurt, they can become darker over time. When a tooth experiences trauma, it may produce more dentine to protect itself, which can cause a visual darkening. In some cases, blood from inside the tooth can leak out and cause discoloration.
- Medications: Some medications can also lead to tooth staining as a side effect. For example, if young children take antibiotics like tetracycline and doxycycline while their teeth are forming, they may experience discoloration of their adult teeth later in life.
It’s best to have teeth whitening done by a dental professional. They can figure out why the teeth are discolored and suggest the best way to lighten their color.
Types of Staining: Extrinsic and Intrinsic
Extrinsic Staining
Stains that show up on the outer surface of the tooth are called extrinsic stains. They happen because of things like drinking tea, coffee, red wine, or smoking. To get rid of them, you can try using whitening toothpaste, getting a professional dental cleaning, or trying chemical treatments.
Intrinsic Staining
Intrinsic stains are different because they are inside the structure of the tooth. They can be caused by various factors, like taking certain medications during tooth development, having dental injuries with blood leakage, having metal fillings (amalgam), or getting root canal treatments.
Treating Intrinsic Stains
Handling stains inside the tooth is more challenging than on the outside. However, depending on the cause, there are methods to treat the tooth from within.
If a tooth has been injured and had a root canal treatment, a process called internal bleaching can be used. A dental expert puts the whitening treatment inside the tooth, leaves it there for several days, and then cleans it out before filling the tooth. This procedure should be done by a dental professional and might be followed by a crown or veneer treatment. In the end, your teeth will be healthier, and you can enjoy whiter teeth and a brighter smile!
Teeth Whitening Treatment options
There are two main ways a dental professional can provide treatment to whiten teeth – ‘in-chair’ or ‘take-home’ whitening. Your dentist will discuss your options and provide advice on what type of treatment is best for you.
In-chair teeth whitening
A dental professional performs this treatment while you sit in the dental chair. The process uses strong hydrogen peroxide solutions to whiten your teeth visibly. Sometimes, the dentist may suggest a take-home whitening treatment to help you maintain the whiter tooth color at home. So, you can enjoy a brighter smile even after leaving the dental office.
Take-home teeth whitening
With this option, you complete the whitening treatment at home under your dentist’s supervision with the Philips Zoom! take-home teeth whitening kits and custom whitening trays, making it safe and convenient. Custom-made, thin plastic whitening trays are created to fit over the surface of your teeth. You place the tooth whitening gel in these trays and wear them for a specified amount of time, as instructed by your dentist.
Professional Teeth Whitening: The Safe Choice
Dental professionals use teeth whitening products that contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. These are the key ingredients that make whitening effective. The strength of the whitening gel might vary depending on where the treatment takes place. Dental clinics usually use stronger gels compared to take-home kits.
Even though teeth whitening can give amazing results, it’s crucial to be careful to avoid possible risks. If strong hydrogen peroxide treatment touches soft tissues like gums, lips, or tongue, it can cause chemical burns. Moreover, using the gel incorrectly can lead to teeth sensitivity. That’s why seeking professional care is important. Dentists can give the right advice to prevent or reduce these risks. So, you can enjoy a brighter smile without any worries.
Whitening Dental Work: Crowns, Veneers, and Fillings
Are you thinking about whitening your teeth but have dental work like porcelain crowns, veneers, or white fillings? The teeth whitening gel is meant to brighten your natural tooth enamel and won’t change the color of these dental restorations. So, if your fillings, crowns, or veneers don’t match your newly whitened teeth, our dentists might recommend replacing them.
Before starting the whitening treatment, our dentist will discuss your dental work with you. This way, they can give you the best advice and ensure the treatment is suitable for your specific situation. So, you can have a clearer understanding of how the whitening process might affect your dental restorations.
Teeth Whitening and Pregnancy
Are you pregnant or breastfeeding? It’s better to avoid teeth whitening during this period. There’s no clear evidence that teeth whitening is harmful during pregnancy, but there’s also no proof of its safety. To be on the safe side, it’s best to skip it for now.
If you’re thinking of using whitening toothpaste while pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s a good idea to consult your doctor or dentist for advice. They can provide you with the right guidance and ensure you make the best decision for your oral health during this time.
Tooth Sensitivity
After the treatments, you might experience temporary tooth sensitivity. The whitening agents get into the enamel to break down stains, which can briefly expose tooth nerve endings. But don’t worry; this sensitivity usually disappears in a few days. At Green Apple Dental Care, our experts are skilled at reducing sensitivity and can offer personalized advice to ease any discomfort you may feel. So, you can enjoy a brighter smile without any worries!
Seeking Professional Guidance
If you have dental restorations like fillings, crowns, or veneers, keep in mind that they might not whiten the same way as natural teeth. To figure out the best options for your situation, it’s essential to talk to your dentist.
Pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid teeth whitening because its safety during these times isn’t fully confirmed.
You can find various at-home teeth whitening options, like whitening toothpaste and over-the-counter bleaching agents. However, it’s safer and more effective to seek professional dental guidance. While baking soda might work for light surface stains, professional teeth whitening offers better and safer results.
Here at Green Apple Dental Care, we recommend professional care for teeth whitening. So, you can achieve the best possible results and minimize risks. Our skilled dental team will diagnose the cause of your tooth discoloration and suggest the most suitable treatment for you.
At Green Apple Dental Care, you can be assured that the teeth whitening cost is reasonable and won’t be a cause for concern. We are proud to provide affordable teeth whitening services for our valued patients. So, you can enhance your smile without any worries about the cost.
Get ready to brighten your smile with confidence and trust our expertise for a captivating smile. Book a consultation today to experience the wonders of professional teeth whitening at Green Apple Dental Care.
Read more:
Unlock Your Radiant Smile: The Magic of Teeth Whitening at Green Apple Dental Care
