A whiter, brighter smile may be easier than you think!
Your smile is the way you greet the world. Many people say that a great smile is the first thing they notice in a person. If you’re not happy with the whiteness your teeth or proud of the brightness in your smile, there may be help for you!
First of all, whitening is safe if done correctly and according to instructions. There are a variety of products available that will lighten the shade of your teeth. They all basically fall into four categories.
The first is whitening toothpastes. While all toothpastes help remove surface stains, “whitening” toothpastes have special chemical or polishing agents that provide additional stain removing effectiveness. These toothpastes basically remove stains and do little or nothing to change the shade of your teeth. You can get toothpastes that are too abrasive. They can damage your teeth and your gums. Make sure that any “whitening” toothpaste has the ADA seal of approval.
The second type of whitening products are the whitening strips. These vary in fit, comfort and level of whitening agent available. These products are usually bulky and somewhat uncomfortable to wear. They can cause burning of the gums and sensitivity in the teeth. They are not very good at whitening in between the teeth where stains develop. They are inexpensive and when used correctly can do a nice job of brightening your smile.
The next step up is gel filled trays. The trays can be generic or custom made for your teeth. The gel whitens all surfaces of the teeth and it does a very nice job of getting your teeth their whitest and brightest. If you get a generic tray, you can still get burning of the gums. Custom trays do the best job, but you still need to wear them over an extended period of time to get the best result. If sensitivity is an issue, you can skip a day or two of treatment. However, that lengthens the time needed to get the best result.
In-office whitening will get your teeth their absolute whitest in one sitting. Your gums are covered to protect them. The teeth are painted with an optimum potency of whitening gel, and a light or laser is used to enhance the action of the whitening agent. Again, sensitivity can be an issue, but a buffering agent can be applied after the treatment to calm the sensitivity.
Not everyone is a good candidate for whitening. Grayish teeth are hard to lighten. Internal or chemically stained teeth will probably not get much better. Restorations, crowns, veneers and bonding will not change in color when you use a whitening product. Check with your dentist or hygienist and have them recommend a whitening method that will best fit your situation.
At Bruce Sexton DDS we have some very effective whiting strips available. Our custom made whitening trays and gels are designed for comfort and ease of use. We also offer Phillips Zoom which is the #1 patient-requested professional whitening treatment. Over 10 million patients have already used Zoom to achieve a brighter, whiter, more noticeable smile. Ask today how we can make your smile its best!
Thanks for Reading,
Dr. Bruce
