It’s pretty safe to say that nearly everyone wishes they had whiter teeth. Whiter teeth look great and can even add to a person’s overall level of confidence, as your smile is more attractive and more readily shown. However, many of our common habits, such as drinking coffee or red wine and eating fruit like blueberries and raspberries, can make keeping our teeth white a real challenge.
The good news is that over the last few years there are a variety of ways that we can restore our teeth to their natural shade and make them whiter. How does this process work? Is it safe and healthy? Does it really result in whiter teeth?
The whitening process, when performed in our office, utilizes chemical compounds known as bleaching agents to whiten teeth. These compounds contain varying amounts of peroxides, most often hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Peroxides are able to remove deep stains, as well as surface stains. Whereas whitening toothpaste typically removes surface stains, the agents that our office uses are able to make your teeth many shades whiter, sometimes up to 3-8 shades, depending on the patient.
The peroxides start a chemical reaction known as oxidation, which enables the bleaching agents to go deep down to your enamel, where the deepest stains lie.
Finally, contrary to many myths, the whitening process is quite safe and typically won’t damage your teeth. In fact, the American Dental Association has issued a statement that claims that whitening is American Dental Association has issued a statement that claims that whitening is safe when accompanied with an examination and treatment plan from a qualified dentist. As always, if you experience significant sensitivity following a whitening treatment, it’s typically wise to discontinue the treatment and see a dentist if the sensitivity persists over time.
If you have any questions about teeth whitening or if you would like to schedule a free consultation, please contact our team or make an appointment. Our incredible staff will give you the best dental care possible.