You probably have the idea in your head that a perfect smile consists of bright white teeth. A slight yellow color is quite natural for your teeth, and it is completely normal. Depending on what foods and drinks you consume, you might also have further discoloration or stains on your teeth. Having naturally bright teeth can be very challenging, and depending on your situation, you might feel insecure about it. Before we get too far into talking about teeth whitening treatments, let’s discuss what can prevent further discoloration if it is something you’re looking to eliminate. Tobacco, tea, coffee, red wine, and berries are included on the list of things that can cause stains and discolor your teeth. Having good oral hygiene, visiting your dentist every six months, using a straw to drink staining beverages, and drinking a lot of water can also help prevent discoloration and staining.
For the most part, if someone is looking to whiten their teeth they’ll first start by looking into over-the-counter whitening solutions. The thing with drugstore products is that they’re not guaranteed to work and you could end up wasting your money, or even end up with unevenly colored teeth if they do work. If they do work, they’re still not as effective as dental-grade whitening trays because they contain lower concentrations of peroxide. Any whitening strips, whitening toothpaste, or whitening trays will all be less effective than what you would receive from your dentist. In addition to being unsafe and dangerous to use, they may be effective in removing minor imperfections. Sometimes these products aren’t tested properly or are difficult to use correctly without proper instructions. You should always speak to your dentist about your desire for whiter teeth since over-the-counter products aren't as effective or safe as those you can get from your dentist.
At Santee Dental, we offer two different teeth whitening treatments for our patients who want a brighter smile. We have take-home teeth whitening and in-office teeth whitening, the in-office has faster results but the take-home whitening option might be more convenient for you depending on your lifestyle. Our take-home teeth whitening kit can get you a whiter smile within a week, all from home. This method often brings a more subtle whitening result with reusable whitening trays made by your dentist, just for you. At an appointment with your dentist, we will take impressions of your teeth so that we can create whitening trays that will perfectly fit your teeth. The impression will be made either digitally or using dental putty, but either way, they’ll ensure your trays will have a perfect fit! Once your trays are completed, we will send them home with you along with a whitening solution and detailed instructions on how to use them safely and effectively. That way, you can get a professional grade whitening result in a week!
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If you’re looking for a teeth whitening treatment with quicker results and completely done by your dentist, then consider looking into our in-office teeth whitening treatment. After just a single round of whitening, your smile can be up to 10 shades whiter in an hour. If you have a last-minute special event to attend, then this treatment is perfect to help you achieve fast results. The process involves an appointment with your dentist where they’ll apply a protective gel to your gums and use retractors to keep your cheeks away from your teeth. Once this is done, your dentist will then apply the whitener and activate it using a UV light. After an hour, your dentist will then rinse the whitening away and you’re done! If the whitening isn’t as bright as you’d like, then we can redo the process in future appointments. One of the biggest benefits of this treatment is that your dentist can ensure the whitening your teeth receive will be even and look natural.
The key when it comes to teeth whitening is to do it effectively the first time so you don’t have to have your teeth whitened regularly. Having a whitening solution on your teeth several times over a short period can become unsafe and risk the strength of your teeth. It can cause your tooth enamel to degrade, cause your teeth to erode, decay, fracture, and just overall cause a lot of sensitivity and pain. This is a common problem with those who use over-the-counter products as they aren’t as effective so it often takes several rounds of whitening to get results. Too many of those chemicals sitting on your teeth for long periods can cause harm, so a solution that whitens your teeth fast and safely is best. This doesn’t include our take-home whitening trays, as they’re formulated to be used repetitively for a few days to a few weeks. Using harsh whitening solutions regularly is what can be harmful. This can be avoided by simply talking to your dentist about your smile goals and seeing if their teeth whitening treatments would work best for you. If you have some particularly harsh stains on your teeth, then over-the-counter products may not even be able to lighten them at all. Overall, you’ll have a more positive experience and result if you seek teeth whitening from your dentist versus trying drugstore teeth whitening products.
When done correctly, teeth whitening can be a great way to enhance your smile and boost your confidence, despite being deemed "unnecessary" and potentially unsafe. The purpose of cosmetic dentistry is to improve your self-esteem, which in turn will improve your oral hygiene and lead to a healthier lifestyle if it makes you happy with your teeth. If your smile makes you happy, then you’ll want to keep it the way it is and make sure it stays healthy. Remember that just because teeth whitening solutions are sold at drugstores doesn't mean they're effective. Your dentist can determine what treatments work best for your teeth and your particular discoloration or stains.
If you’d like to look into obtaining teeth whitening from Santee Dental, contact us today! Let us help you get the beautiful white smile you've always wanted.