We all love a brighter and youthful smile. White teeth are attractive and play a significant role in your social life and self-confidence. Teeth stains, discoloration, or yellowing can be such a disappointment. Dental trauma, highly pigmented drinks & drinks, tobacco use, poor dental hygiene, and tooth decay are major causes of teeth discoloration.
Tooth discoloration has two significant types – internal and external discoloration. External or Extrinsic discoloration affects the tooth’s surface or enamel. Intrinsic or internal discoloration happens into the tooth structure. The external discoloration is easier to remove, while internal discoloration might require the help of a dental professional.
For teeth whitening near you, you should visit your dentist to determine which type of discoloration you have. The dentist will also guide you about the ideal solution to adopt. Generally, you have three primary options when it comes to teeth whitening. Professional teeth whitening, over-the-counter teeth whitening, and lastly, at-home teeth whitening are all options.
Your dentists provide professional whitening in the office or for use at home. Over-the-counter whitening can be obtained from a store nearby without a prescription. At-home whitening involves using natural home-based products such as baking soda, lemon, and apple cider vinegar to whiten teeth. For the most effective, safest, and quickest way to uncover those pearly whites, professional whitening is the way to go.
Please note that not everyone is an ideal candidate for teeth whitening. For instance, if a tooth has tooth decay or a root canal, no bleaching can undo the stain. The only option is to cover the tooth with a veneer or crown. Visit a dentist near you to determine whether teeth whitening is an option for you.
A dentist whitewater offers professional teeth whitening. They can provide teeth whitening in the dental office or at home. For in-office whitening, the dentist cleans and polishes the teeth to remove plaque and tartar buildup from the surface. Next, the dentist applies a whitening or bleaching agent to the teeth.
A special dental light or laser can activate the bleaching agent (usually hydrogen or carbamide peroxide). Once the treatment is complete, the dentist rinses the teeth and may apply fluoride to reduce sensitivity. At-home dentist’s whitening is whitening trays.
Over-the-counter whitening products and home remedies come in one generic fit, unlike professional whitening. Since teeth discoloration varies from one patient to another, these products might not be ideal for all patients. For instance, you might not find a properly fitting tray, leading to inconsistent results.
When you get professional whitening from your dentist, they learn about your stains and smile goals. Next, they create a customized teeth whitening solution. The results are guaranteed, safe, uniform, and long-lasting.
While over-the-counter and home remedies might have worked for some people, it’s not a guarantee that they’ll work for you. For instance, they might not work on stubborn or internal discoloration. Stubborn discoloration can only respond to strong teeth whitening treatments.
In-office whitening treatments contain potent bleaching agents, making them powerful enough to remove deep stains. At-store and home remedies only include little concentration of the bleaching agent, making them less effective.
When you go for in-office whitening treatments, you’ll have an instant and brighter smile in less than two hours. DIY tooth whitening takes several weeks or months to show results.
Backed by good oral habits and hygiene, professional teeth whitening results are more lasting than at-store and at-home whitening treatments. On average, professional whitening lasts for about three years or more.
There’s a lot that can go sideways with using the wrong products or instructions to whiten your teeth. Wrongly used store-bought bleaching products can irritate the gums, increase tooth sensitivity, or worse, damage the tooth’s enamel. Since professional whitening is customized for your smile and provided by a professional, it is unlikely something will go wrong.
Are you considering teeth whitening in Fort Atkinson? Contact Rock River Dental for more information.