Tooth Whitening

Are your teeth not as bright as you would like? Tooth enamel can be many different shades and can become discolored due to many reasons, including genetics and aging, tooth injury or illness, certain medications, smoking or chewing tobacco, staining foods such as coffee or wine, or excessive amounts of fluoride.

How Can I Brighten My Smile?

There are several tooth whitening options to help brighten your smile: Whitening toothpastes will help remove surface stains from your teeth. These are the gentlest of all tooth whitening options since toothpaste relies on polishing teeth rather than using chemicals to brighten teeth. Whitening toothpastes can lighten the color of your teeth about one shade. Comparably, prescription strength whitening performed in your dentist’s office can make your teeth three to eight shades lighter. Over-the-counter whitening kits can come from your dentist or sold over the counter. These kits include pieces that can be applied to teeth via trays, strips, rinses, or brushes, and usually contain peroxide, a chemical that can get below the surface of the enamel. Initial results are seen in a few days and final results are maintained for about four months. Dental office whitening is typically a one-hour long procedure. In-office whitening is the much stronger option and may involve protective sheets of rubber or gel covering the gums. Sometimes dental office whitening procedures will involve lasers used to whiten teeth. This is by far the fastest method for whitening teeth.

Custom Whitening Trays

Teeth bleaching and teeth whitening are fast, easy ways to brighten teeth and enhance your smile. Your dentist will take an impression of your teeth to make a mouthpiece tray that is customized to fit exactly to your teeth. The custom-made tray will help maximize the contact from the teeth whitening gel that will be applied, while also minimizing the whitening gel’s contact with gum tissue.