Teeth whitening is definitely the newest trend in dentistry. Due to advances in dental technology and the introduction of new products and substances, we are now able to do something for our patients that want their teeth to be white again.
If you watch the commercials for over-the-counter tooth whitening products you will get the impression that anyone’s teeth can be whitened and that all teeth are created equal. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth.
If you have teeth that do not have stains that have been there for decades and your teeth are healthy, tooth whitening toothpaste can brighten your smile, but the effects are not long lasting. As the day wears on the effect of the toothpaste wears off. The difference between regular toothpaste and tooth whitening toothpaste is basically the ingredients. Tooth whitening toothpaste has ingredients that are more abrasive such as silica or baking soda. These abrasive ingredients remove more surface stains than regular toothpaste.
So How Do I Get My Teeth White?
Part of the problem we encounter when whitening our patients’ teeth is that they go back to the habits that caused the discoloration to begin with. For example, coffee and tea stain your teeth. Certain foods like beets and blueberries can also stain your teeth. Cigarette smoking is probably the worst culprit when it comes to stained teeth.
If you want whiter teeth, come to see us. We will evaluate what caused the staining and then we can determine what the best course of action would be for you. We have professional tooth whitening products that are not available to the general public.
We will first evaluate your teeth to see if they can be whitened because depending on how deep the stain is, your teeth may not be a candidate for teeth whitening. In these cases, veneers can possibly be used instead.