Let’s Talk At-Home Teeth Whitening
January 23, 2019
When you think about home-based teeth whitening, you’re probably picturing the whitening strips and other options available in stores. However, we offer our Kansas City, MO, patients access to a professional system they can use at home. Patients then enjoy brighter smile and more dramatic results. Let’s talk about our at-home whitening system.
Why Do Our Teeth Become Stained?
Understanding the causes of teeth stains will help you make better choices to keep your smile bright. Often, plaque buildup makes the stains more apparent. Plaque buildup occurs when bacteria break down food particles lodged between your teeth, leading to a sticky buildup on your smile. Lack of poor oral hygiene and a diet high in sugary and starchy products could lead to more severe buildup. Drinks with dark pigments, including soda, tea, red wine, and coffee, could also stain your smile. Finally, smoking and tobacco use often leaves behind unsightly yellow and brown stains (as well as a higher risk of cancer).
The At-Home System
How do we remove stains from your smile at home? Well, when you visit the office, we create a custom-made set of plastic trays. Next, we prescribe a powerful bleaching gel. When you return home, you will fill the trays with gel and then wear them, usually for about 30 to 45 minutes. You do this each day over the course of one to two weeks. At the end of your treatment period, your smile will be noticeably brighter, often several shades brighter! The remaining trays and gel can be used to help perform minor touch-ups down the road, helping your smile stay brighter for longer.
Keeping Your Teeth Brighter Down the Road
Aside from touching up your smile with the trays and gel, how do you maintain a bright smile? Well, start with proper homecare. Each day, you need to brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day. We also urge patients to floss nightly before bed. These actions remove food particles, reducing the severity of plaque buildup. In order to remove plaque completely and brighten your smile periodically, we suggest seeing us every six months for a thorough dental cleaning. In addition, be sure you cut back on drinks that could promote discoloration, and also reduce your consumption of foods high in sugar and other starches. With a few steps you not only brighten your smile, but also improve your overall oral health! If you have any questions about our teeth whitening products, then contact our team today.
Do You Have Questions About Teeth Whitening?
We want to help you enjoy a brighter and more beautiful smile with our cosmetic treatment options. To schedule a consultation, call Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry of Kansas City, MO, today at 816-427-4018.