From major repairs to subtle changes, cosmetic dentists can perform a variety of procedures to improve your smile. Cosmetic dentistry provides dental health care just as general dentistry does, but with the added benefit of specialized procedures to ensure a brighter whiter more vibrant smile. Such procedures include, but aren’t limited to: bonding, tooth-colored restorations and fillings, porcelain veneers, orthodontics, dental implants and tooth whitening. Teeth whitening is a particularly popular procedure because it is an easy and cost effective way to instantly improve your smile and self esteem.
Why Whiten Your Teeth?
Your smile is one of the first things someone notices when you first meet. A bright white smile is not only beautiful, but can also help you be more confident and make a memorable impression. In many cases aging and actions we perform on a regular basis (i.e. smoking, drinking coffee, tea, cola, red wine, etc.) can stain teeth. Luckily, through the use of the latest tooth whitening technology the dentists at the Friedman Dental Group can help you get the gorgeous white smile you’ve always dreamed of.
Steps you can take to whiten your teeth
There are many methods available, such as brushing, bleaching strips, bleaching pens, bleaching gels, and laser bleaching. No matter which method you choose to implement it’s important to consult a dentist to ensure you are taking the safest possible steps towards teeth whitening and dental health.
Whitening Toothpaste
Teeth whitening toothpastes contain mild abrasives to remove surface stains on teeth, and while not strong enough to dramatically whiten discolored teeth on their own, they do help get rid of new stains.
When shopping for a whitening paste, look for an ingredient called blue covarine, this will bind to your teeth and create the optical illusion that makes teeth appear less yellow.
Whitening Trays
Teeth whitening trays are effective, but their effects are not instant and can require somewhere between 3 days to a couple of weeks to generate results (this is because the gels used come in different strengths and concentrations). There are two basic types of teeth whitening trays and gels: those you get from your dentist and those that are purchased over the counter.
Teeth whitening kits from the dentist are more effective and produce results faster because they use stronger peroxide-bleaching agents and the trays are custom made to fit your mouth exactly. The over the counter trays are generically sized and are less effective because they use a less powerful bleaching agent due to probable gum contact.
Whitening Strips
Available at nearly any drug store in America teeth whitening strips are easy to use and inexpensive, and while they don’t provide instant results the majority of them work well. When purchasing whitening strips it is important to make sure they do not contain chlorine dioxide (which can cause significant damage to your enamel).
Whitening Pens, Chewing Gums, Dental Flosses, Mouthwashes, etc.
New whitening products are always popping up on the market, and while many of these products kill mouth bacteria and freshen your breath most don’t actually produce whitening results.
In-Office Bleaching
In-office bleaching, or laser teeth whitening offers the best results in the least amount of time. The procedure itself takes little over an hour and is a simple process that requires the application of a bleaching gel onto the teeth and then the use of a laser or bright light to activate chemicals in the gel to whiten teeth more quickly than bleaching alone.
Keeping Your Teeth White After Treatment
No matter which of the above methods you choose, after treatment take the following steps to ensure your teeth remain white and healthy:
1.) Alter your lifestyle: Avoid activities, food and drink that cause stains, common things to avoid are: smoking, drinking coffees, teas, red wines and dark juices as well as eating curries.
2.) Brush your teeth after every meal: Brushing your teeth after eating or drinking will allow you to remove staining agents before they have a chance to set in and darken teeth.
3.)Schedule a regular professional cleaning: A professional cleaning will not only help keep your teeth as white as possible, but also prevent other dental problems from occurring.
