How Do We Whiten Smiles From Home?
January 2, 2020
While easily available, most at-home systems, such as strips or toothpastes, don’t offer the same level of whitening as professional treatment. For those that desire a system they can use at home, your Kansas City, MO, dentist can brighten teeth with a set of custom trays and a powerful bleaching gel. In today’s blog, we’re looking at how this procedure works and the results we can provide!
The Causes of Stained Teeth
There are two different types of teeth stains. The most common is extrinsic, which means they form on the surface of the teeth. These could be caused by drinks with dark pigments, like coffee, red wine, soda, and tea. Foods with sugar and starch, which promote plaque buildup, could also make discoloration more visible. Smoking and tobacco use may lead to surface discoloration as well.
Intrinsic stains are very different and actually form beneath the outer enamel, a result of injury to the tooth, fluorosis, or exposure to tetracycline at a young age. These may not respond to teeth whitening procedures if they are too severe.
The At-Home Treatment Process
Our at-home system not only removes surface discoloration, but could help address minor intrinsic stains as well. We start with an initial office visit so we can take detailed impressions of your smile and create a set of plastic trays. We then send you home with these trays, along with a powerful bleaching gel as well. The trays will be filled with gel and worn for about 30 to 45 minutes a day. Optimal results will take about a week to ten days to complete. You can then keep the trays and any remaining gel for touch-ups down the road!
Keeping Your Smile Bright for Months to Come
If you have serious intrinsic teeth stains then our team may suggest masking them with dental bonding or by placing porcelain veneers. To help keep your teeth bright for years to come, we suggest taking time to brush your teeth twice a day and floss before bed. This controls plaque buildup and helps reduce the severity of discoloration. You should also see our team for an exam and a cleaning every six months, so we can keep your smile bright for longer periods. Also consider avoiding drinks with staining agents and foods that discolor your teeth. If you have any questions about teeth whitening, or about any of our other cosmetic treatment options, then contact our team today to learn more.
Do You Have Dental Discoloration?
We would love to help you obtain a smile that is noticeably brighter and instills a new level of confidence. To learn more about our cosmetic options, then please schedule a consultation by calling Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry of Kansas City, MO, today at 816-427-4018.