Fix Stained Teeth
Brightening your smile is a relatively simple process that can bring back confidence! As we age, our teeth can become dull and yellowed from the foods and beverages we can soon as well as tobacco use and even certain medications. Fortunately, there are quite a few options available to whiten and brighten your smile!
Before you begin any whitening routine, it is important to discuss your options with your dentist. All stains are not created equal so some whitening methods may not work for some people. For example, patients who have a gray appearance in their teeth may have tetracycline staining which will not be removed with laser whitening or home whitening kit. There are internal whitening methods available that can brighten such stains.
Over-the-counter products are widely available and most dental offices offer some type of professional whitening.
At-home Whitening
There are a number of whitening products available at your local supermarket including toothpastes, mouthwashes, and whitening kits. Beginning with a whitening kit is a great way to kick off your new smile. Whitening strips have a pre-applied whitening gel solution that you simply apply to your teeth and where for up to an hour every day for about two weeks or until your desired results are reached. These are great since you can use them at your leisure and achieve great results! Whitening strips do take a little longer than in-office whitening but may be more convenient for some.
After you have whitened your teeth, using whitening toothpaste and mouthwash can help keep stains that day and help you maintain a bright smile.
In-office Whitening
In-office professional whitening can be a quick way to achieve optimal results! Professional whitening methods such as Zoom! whitening allows patients to brighten their smile in under two hours. Laser whitening uses a whitening gel solution that is applied directly to the teeth and an ultraviolet light that increases the speed of treatment.
If you do not think in-office whitening is for you, your dentist may offer their own at-home whitening kit. They can provide you with custom made whitening trays that you put the whitening gel into and wear at home for up to an hour for about two weeks or until the desired results are reached. You may even be able to purchase a touch-up kit to use after your teeth have been whitened.
Post Whitening Care
You do not need to do anything to prepare for whitening though it is often advisable to have your teeth professionally cleaned before beginning any whitening treatment so the whitening gel can do its best work. After any whitening treatment, you may experience some mild sensitivity but it should subside within a couple of days. You may even experience “zingers“ that are sharp, brief pain but as your teeth rehydrate, that too will subside.
Also after any whitening treatment, it is very important to avoid foods and beverages that may stain your teeth for at least 48 hours. Coffee and wine can especially cause more staining.
More on Fixing Teeth : Fix Sensitive Teeth