What Are My Professional Teeth Whitening Options?

If you are like many other adults, teeth whitening has probably crossed your mind lately. When brushing alone is not keeping your teeth unstained, it may be time to talk to the dentist about reviving your smile. There are effective professional cosmetic dentistry treatments that can improve the shade of your teeth and help you to love the way you look. You can learn about different whitening treatments and decide which one will help you reach your goals.

How teeth stain

It would be nice if teeth did not stain and stayed a gorgeous white all the time. Unfortunately, teeth are not stain-resistant. Certain issues can cause teeth to turn yellow, brown, or gray. Often, these problems occur on a person’s teeth because of inattention to good oral hygiene. Neglecting to brush twice a day can lead to significant staining.

Genetics can also play a factor for some people. However, a more common reason for staining is eating or drinking certain foods and beverages. Items such as tomato juice, soy sauce, and curry can discolor teeth over time. Drinking coffee, tea, or soda can have the same effect.

Teeth whitening at home

Professional methods can be effective at getting rid of discoloration and bringing out the natural whiteness of teeth. One of the most popular ways of doing this is with take-home trays. This treatment can last up to several months but does not require the person to come into the office for procedures. The dentist will make impressions of the person’s mouth and then custom-make mouthguard-like trays.

The dentist will also give the patient a solution of hydrogen peroxide in gel form. The patient follows the dentist’s directions in putting the right amount of gel on the trays every night. The person wears the trays while sleeping, removing them first thing in the morning. Take-home trays can produce results within a few weeks or even less. The effects can last a couple of years.

In-office procedures

Not all people interested in teeth whitening want to worry about wearing trays every night. Patients often enjoy having to come into the office once or twice and not have the responsibility of at-home care. The dentist will use a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide. As a result, in-office procedures are often longer-lasting.

When a patient comes in for this treatment, they will sit or lie in the dental chair. The dentist places an appliance in the person’s mouth. This apparatus contains the hydrogen peroxide solution, which will stay in the mouth for an hour or less. The dentist will use light or heat to activate the chemicals. The solution penetrates into the tooth and breaks down the stain-causing molecules.

The choice is yours for whiter teeth

If you are unhappy with your teeth every time you look in the mirror, do something about it. You can start today to work toward getting a new smile. Talk to your dentist about what teeth whitening method will be the most effective for you. It will not be long before your discolored teeth are a beautiful white.

Request an appointment here: https://sonorandesertdentistry.com or call Sonoran Desert Dentistry at (480) 439-0117 for an appointment in our Scottsdale office.

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