Teeth Whitening- A Bright New Smile

What Is Teeth Whitening?
Teeth Whitening, also known as Dental whitening or bleaching is a chemical process that lightens teeth that have become discolored from a variety of causes. These may include smoking, coffee and tea stains, red wine and tetracycline stains from when the patient was a child.

What types of Teeth whitening are available?
There are two different approaches to teeth whitening, Over the counter products or thru your dentist. Over the counter products can include bleaching strips, bleaching pens, and loose fitting bleaching trays. The dentist office usually includes either bleaching trays that are custom made or laser bleaching such as Zoom or brite smile.

For my patients, friends, and relatives who can not make it into the office, I highly recommend this Home Teeth Whitening Kit.

What chemicals are used to Whiten teeth?
Usually one of two chemicals is used, either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. These are oxidizing agents that penetrate down into the enamel rods and oxidize the particles that cause the stains. Keep in mind that once the teeth are bleached, the use of coffee, tea, smoking and red wine can cause the teeth to stain again, it is not a “permanent” procedure.

How often can I bleach?
With in office bleaching the recommendation is once a year. Using a custom whitening tray from your dentist, you can safely do it about every 6 months. For the best results, we recommend using an in office procedure followed by 4-6 days of bleaching trays.

How safe is teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening is very safe as long as the manafacturer’s directions are followed. Bleaching your teeth frequently can cause sensitivity and eventually nerve damage if it is done to often. It is also not recommended for anyone under the age of 14.