If you are interested in doing teeth whitening, you are not alone. This is becoming a popular way in cosmetic dentistry to get a smile makeover and feel good about your appearance again. Professional whitening can happen in the dentist’s office, but there is also an effective way you can do it at home. If you decide to move forward with this treatment, your dentist can send you home with whitening trays. Many people wonder how this process works, so it is helpful to find out more information so you can have a successful experience and achieve your goals.
Other ways to whiten teeth
Aside from take-home trays, there are two other teeth whitening methods that people consider. The first requires much less of a financial commitment: purchasing whitening products in the store. These come in toothpaste options, whitening strips, and mouthwashes. Patients do see results, but the changes usually come more slowly than professional methods and do not last as long.
For faster results, patients should consider doing whitening at the dentist’s office. This procedure only requires one or two visits. The dentist places a whitening gel in a mouthguard and puts it in the patient’s mouth for 30 minutes to an hour. The dentist then uses light or heat to activate the chemicals, which then penetrate the teeth and break down the stains. People will sometimes notice whiter teeth immediately.
When to wear the trays
Instead of sitting in a dental chair for an hour at a time, some people prefer to do teeth whitening on their own. For take-home treatments, the dentist will take impressions of the person’s mouth and fit the individual with a mouthguard. In these trays, the patient will place a moderate amount of hydrogen peroxide gel. The dentist will instruct the patient to wear the trays overnight. The individual should remove them after waking up in the morning.
How to care for the trays and teeth
Teeth whitening should never be a substitute for regular brushing and flossing. This process will help remove discoloration on the teeth but will not prevent cavities. The patient should continue to brush with fluoride-based toothpaste at least twice a day. The trays are made of plastic and are prone to damage without proper care and maintenance. When the patient is not using the trays, it is important to keep them in a secure case.
The duration of this teeth whitening treatment
Treatment lengths will vary from patient to patient. People with severely discolored teeth will need to wear the trays longer than someone who only needs one or two shades of improvement. Most people will wear the take-home trays for at least a few months. The individual might have to continue the treatment after stopping if their teeth are not as white as they would like.
Getting the smile you want
You should not have to hide your smile any longer. Wearing take-home teeth whitening trays can help you have aesthetically pleasing teeth. Talk to your dentist today about whether you are a good candidate. Then, make sure you follow the instructions you receive.
Request an appointment here: https://sonorandesertdentistry.com or call Sonoran Desert Dentistry at (480) 439-0117 for an appointment in our Scottsdale office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Teeth Whitening in Scottsdale, AZ.
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