Professional whitening can help you get white teeth in Glendale, AZ in time for the celebrations ahead. The holiday season can mean dinners, parties, travel, and lots of pictures. If stains make you less happy with your smile, you have options.
Call Glendale Gentle Dentistry at 623-244-4304 for an appointment.
Why Can Your Smile Look Dull?
The basics: Tooth color can change slowly over the years.
Coffee and tea are common causes of stains. Soda, red wine, berries, and dark sauces can also leave color behind. Tobacco use may cause noticeable staining as well.
Age can play a role, too. The outer layer of enamel may become thinner over time, allowing more of the yellow layer underneath to show.
Brushing twice a day is important for healthy teeth, but brushing cannot remove every stain. Whitening toothpaste may polish away some surface marks without changing deeper discoloration.
How Can a Dentist Help With Whitening?
Before starting a whitening treatment, it is a good idea to have your oral health checked. Your dentist can examine your teeth and gums for cavities, damage, or other problems that should be treated first.
The dentist can also determine whether your type of staining is likely to respond to treatment.
Professional whitening offers benefits such as:
- A plan based on your teeth
- More consistent whitening
- Care to protect your gums
- Instructions for proper use
- Advice for keeping sensitivity under control
The key point: Finding the reason behind your tooth stains can make it easier to select the whitening approach that best fits your needs.
How Quickly Can Teeth Look Whiter?
In-office treatment is an option for people who want results without completing a whitening routine at home.
Your dental team covers your gums to help keep the whitening product away from sensitive areas. The whitening solution is then carefully applied to the surface of your teeth and left in place for the recommended time.
Many patients notice a difference after their visit. The amount of change will depend on your starting tooth color and the stains you have.
For someone seeking white teeth in Glendale before a holiday gathering or photo, in-office care may offer a convenient solution.
What If You Would Rather Whiten at Home?
Professional take-home whitening lets you work toward a brighter smile on your schedule. Instead of using one-size-fits-all strips, you receive trays designed to fit your mouth.
You add the recommended amount of whitening gel to the trays and wear them as instructed. Your teeth gradually become brighter as you continue treatment.
Use the whitening trays only as your dentist recommends. Adding more gel or leaving the trays in longer than advised may make your teeth or gums feel sore.
Will Dental Restorations Get Lighter?
Whitening treatment changes the color of natural enamel, but it does not brighten dental restorations. Fillings, bonding, veneers, and crowns will stay the same color after treatment.
If you have restorations on your front teeth, your dentist can explain how whitening your natural teeth may affect the overall color of your smile.
Some tooth stains may also respond differently to whitening. An exam can help you set reasonable expectations before treatment begins.
Make Your Brighter Smile Last
Your habits after whitening can affect how long you enjoy the results. Brush in the morning and before bed, and clean between your teeth every day. Keep your regular dental cleaning appointments, too.
After having coffee, tea, soda, red wine, or other dark foods and drinks, rinse your mouth with water. Cutting back on tobacco can also help prevent new stains.
The bottom line: You do not have to wait until the week of your holiday event to think about whitening. Starting sooner gives you time to discuss your choices and work toward white teeth in Glendale before celebrations begin.
Schedule a visit and learn more about professional teeth whitening.
Call Glendale Gentle Dentistry 623-244-4304 for an appointment. You can also schedule online.
