Your smile is the first impression that you make. When you smile, the first thing people see is your teeth. When your teeth are bright and white, it has the power to leave a powerful impression. Any discoloration, however, can significantly impact the quality of your smile, and leave you feeling self-conscious. At West End Dental, we can help to restore the bright, white beauty to your teeth, and enhance the quality of your smile, with
teeth whitening.
What is Teeth Whitening?
Many factors can contribute to the discoloration of your teeth, including the foods and beverages you consume, lifestyle habits like smoking and other tobacco products, and certain types of medications. When your tooth enamel is discolored, the quality of your smile and your confidence deteriorates. Teeth whitening is a procedure that is performed to eliminate stubborn stains from your teeth, restoring the bright white brilliance to your smile and boosting your confidence.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Whitening trays enable you to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home. We create custom trays just for you based on molds of your mouth. You are provided with the trays and the bleaching agent. The trays hold the bleaching agent against the surfaces of your teeth and are made to be worn for either a few hours twice a day or overnight while you are sleeping. Treatment typically takes one to two weeks, sometimes longer, depending upon your degree of staining and your goals. Results begin to show in just under a week.
What About Over the Counter Whiteners?
There are many types of over the counter whitening products that you can find in the oral care aisle. While these products, which include toothpaste, gels, strips, and more, promise incredible results in a short period, they contain very low levels of bleaching agents. It can take several treatments before you see even a slight difference. While these products may be effective for treating minor surface stains, they often cannot provide the drastic results many patients are looking for.
Is Teeth Whitening Permanent?
In short, no. Teeth whitening is not a permanent treatment. Your teeth can become discolored again over time. There are ways, however, to prolong the results of your treatment.
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Limit foods and beverages that stain.
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Drink plenty of water.
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Brush and floss your teeth daily.
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Have your teeth periodically touched up. |
How Safe is Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is a very safe procedure. One of the most common complaints associated with the treatment is tooth sensitivity. This sensitivity can often be managed with a specially formulated toothpaste. Once your whitening treatment is over, the sensitivity should go away.
Teeth whitening restores the bright white brilliance to your teeth, giving you back your beautiful, confident smile. Call West End Dental today at (503) 446-2957 to learn more and find out just what teeth whitening can do for you.
