Brighten Your Smile Before the Holidays
November 11, 2019
Now that we’re almost halfway through November, this means holiday gatherings and celebrations are right around the corner! If you would like your smile to look its best before your next party or family gathering, then we can help with professional teeth whitening. Find out how we remove stains and help our Kansas City, MO, patients enjoy a significantly brighter smile.
What Causes Teeth Stains?
There are two different types of dental discoloration, extrinsic and intrinsic. The most common form is extrinsic, which forms on the outer surface of the teeth. These may be caused by consuming drinks with dark pigments, plaque buildup as a result of consuming too many sugary and starchy foods, smoking and tobacco use, and poor oral hygiene. Intrinsic staining occurs beneath the outer layers of enamel, often the result of tetracycline exposure at a young age, fluorosis, or injury to the tooth. These are less common, and more difficult to remove.
Our At-Home Treatment Option
Our at-home procedure can remove extrinsic stains and address minor intrinsic stains in some cases as well. To begin, we will take detailed impressions of your smile to craft a set of trays that fit comfortably. We then send you home with these trays, as well as a bleaching gel. At home, you will fill the trays with the gel and wear them for usually 30 to 45 minutes. The trays help spread the gel evenly to ensure better results. After one to two weeks of daily use, your teeth could be brightened by multiple shades. You can then keep the trays and remaining gel for touch-ups in the future. Now, if you have severe intrinsic stains that don’t respond to whitening, we can simply mask them with bonding, porcelain veneers, or combination of these two cosmetic options, helping you obtain a brighter smile!
Watch Out for Staining Foods and Drinks
To keep your teeth bright, we recommend changes to your daily routine. Cut back on sugary foods and drinks, which reduces plaque and tooth discoloration (as well as tooth decay and gum disease). Also, consume fewer drinks with dark pigments, like coffee, soda, red wine, and tea. Avoid smoking and tobacco use, and take time to brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes and floss before bed. These actions help protect the teeth from discoloration. If you have any questions, then please contact our team today to learn more.
Ready for Cosmetic Smile Improvement?
We would like to help you start the holiday season with a more attractive smile. To learn more about our approach to cosmetic dentistry, then please schedule a consultation by calling Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry of Kansas City, MO, today at 816-427-4018.