Teeth whitening removes stains from teeth to restore your natural white smile. Teeth discoloration occurs over time due to food, beverages, poor dental hygiene, and smoking.
Teeth whitening is an effective solution for teeth discoloration. When done under the supervision of a dentist, teeth whitening is a safe procedure.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Teeth whitening uses chemicals to break down and disperse stains. The most common chemical bleaching agents in whitening formulas include carbamide and hydrogen peroxide.
The hydrogen peroxide easily passes the porous enamel into the tooth and breaks up large molecules that cause stains. This changes how light reflects off your teeth, making them appear lighter shades.
The Teeth Whitening Procedure
Here at Smile On Dental Salon & Sleep Apnea Center, we use Philips Zoom! Whitening is a trusted industry-leading whitening system designed by dental professionals. The system uses a powerful LED light-activated process to speed up the whitening process to deliver a brighter smile in less than an hour.
After applying a protective barrier to your gums, your dentist applies the hydrogen peroxide-based gel to your teeth, then shines the LED light on your teeth for 15 minutes. The LED light activates the gel faster and is a safer alternative to UV light. After rinsing, your dentist checks your tooth shade against a chart and repeats the process if further whitening is required.
You can repeat the whitening process up to 3 times to achieve your desired results. After 45 minutes to an hour, your teeth are white and will stay stain-free for six months to 2 years.
At-Home Teeth Whitening Kits
You can use an at-home teeth whitening kit to touch up your teeth between dental visits. However, you should avoid over-the-counter kits; these whitening kits may be misused and damage your teeth without a dentist’s supervision.
OTC at-home kits can cause increased tooth sensitivity and gum irritation because of prolonged exposure to hydrogen peroxide compounds and inaccurate whitening compound placement.
Avoid the adverse effects of at-home teeth whitening with a kit designed at your dentist’s office. Your dentist makes an impression of your teeth, which is sent to a lab that makes it into a personalized mouth tray. At home, you apply the pre-measured dose of whitening gel to the tray and wear it for an hour. The at-home whitening process takes one hour per day for two weeks.
Side Effects of Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is safe in the long term, but some patients may have short-term side effects. The whitening compound can cause sensitive teeth and irritated gums when left on for too long or applied inaccurately. Visit your dentist for comfortable, safe teeth whitening.
At Smile On Dental Salon & Sleep Apnea Center, your gums and lips are covered during the teeth whitening so that no misplaced gel can cause gum irritation. The whitening formula contains a desensitizing ingredient to close the pores in your enamel and prevent sensitivity.
Get Your Teeth Whitened Today!
Teeth whitening is a safe dental procedure that gives people confidence in their smiles. For the safest experience, visit a dental professional for your teeth whitening.
Smile On Dental Salon & Sleep Apnea Center offers at-home and in-office teeth whitening. Visit our website for more information about teeth whitening and other dental treatments to enhance your smile.