Teeth Whitening Options
Reasons for Teeth Whitening
The enamel layer of your teeth is hard, heavily mineralized, and bright white. Over time, however, small microfractures form on the surface, making it easier for your teeth to catch and hold stains and debris. There are several factors that contribute to discoloration, including:| • | Food: Certain foods and beverages, such as curries, coffee, and red wine, all contain dark pigments. When you consume them, the pigments stick your teeth, obscuring their natural color. |
| • | Tobacco: There are thousands of chemicals in cigarettes. The chemical most notable for staining is tar, which is naturally dark in color, and nicotine, which is colorless until exposed to oxygen. |
| • | Medication: Certain medications, including some for asthma, allergy, and blood pressure, along with certain antibiotics (for example tetracycline and doxycycline) can discolor your teeth. |
| • | Fluorosis: Excessive fluoridation during the development of your teeth can discolor them. |
| • | Age: As you age, your enamel naturally wears thin, exposing the darker dentin layer beneath. |
Over-the-Counter Teeth Whitening
You’ve probably noticed an abundance of whitening products advertised on television and in the pharmacy (or pharmacy section of some stores). All claim to provide you with brilliant results. These products consist of whitening toothpaste, strips, gels, and even pens. Whitening toothpaste contains abrasives, which work to scrub away surface stains. Other over-the-counter whitening products contain low levels of bleaching agents. Many of these products only work on minor surface stains, and often don’t provide you with the results that you are seeking.Take-Home Teeth Whitening Kits
At Boones Landing Dental Center, we offer professional take home trays to help you achieve the whiter smile you’ve always dreamed of. To receive your whitening trays, it takes two visits. During your first visit, we take impressions of your mouth, which are then sent off to a lab and used to create custom fit trays.
On your second visit, we make certain that the trays fit properly and then send you home with the trays and the bleaching agent. The trays are meant to be worn twice a day, or while you are sleeping. They can be worn daily for several weeks to help you achieve your desired results. You may experience some tooth sensitivity in the beginning, but this is only temporary. Lessening the amount of time you wear the trays or using a sensitivity toothpaste can help.
Maintaining the Whiteness of Your Teeth
While whitening provides you with beautiful results, they are not permanent. There are steps that can be taken to help keep your teeth whiter longer:| • | Avoid foods that cause stains, or at least limit them. |
| • | Drink plenty of water, especially after consuming foods and beverages that can stain. |
| • | Don't smoke or use tobacco products. |
| • | Brush and floss your teeth every day. |
| • | Drink through a straw. |
Don’t let discoloration cause you to hide your smile. For more information on teeth whitening, and to schedule your appointment at our Wilsonville, OR office, call Boones Landing Dental Center today at (503) 601-0610.
