Teeth Whitening

One of the main advantages of professional teeth whitening is that you get an awesome smile fast as you say goodbye to embarrassing, unsightly stains.

If you’re considering a smile makeover, professional teeth whitening provides an affordable and highly-effective option to enhance your appearance.

Professional teeth whitening can make a huge difference to your smile compared with over-the-counter products. A dentist can lighten deeper staining that whitening toothpastes can’t touch while avoiding damage to your mouth.

Even if you brush and floss regularly, yellowing of teeth is a natural process as we get older. This happens as enamel – the protective outer layer of a tooth – gets thinner, allowing more of the underlying dentin to become visible.

Besides yellowing, other factors that cause teeth discoloration include:

  • Smoking.
  • Drinks such as tea, coffee, and red wine.
  • Certain medications.
  • Poor dental hygiene.
  • Physical injury to the mouth.

If your teeth are tarnished, you’ll probably feel uneasy about revealing them, and self-conscious about your smile. Because smiling actually makes you feel better about yourself, professional teeth whitening can restore your self-regard.

Intrinsic, Extrinsic and Age-Related Staining

Dental professionals classify discoloration of teeth as intrinsic, extrinsic, or age-related.

Intrinsic staining refers to yellowing or darkening of the inner structure of a tooth when the dentin darkens or yellows.

Extrinsic discoloration occurs when the outer enamel layer becomes stained by certain drinks or foods, or tobacco use.

Age-related staining is a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors as dentin yellows with time and enamel becomes thinner.

Chips or other injuries to a tooth can also cause discoloration, particularly in cases of damage to the pulp – the central and most vital part of a tooth containing connective tissue, blood vessels, and large nerves.

Is There a Difference Between Teeth Whitening and Bleaching?

The terms "whitening" and "bleaching" are often used interchangeably when it comes to getting rid of stains on teeth.

However, any material that removes debris from teeth can be categorized as a whitening product.

On the other hand – according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – a bleaching agent must contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, which create oxygen molecules to break down chemical links within stains.

Advantages of Professional Teeth Whitening Over Whitening Toothpastes

Whitening toothpastes generally take up to six weeks to produce visible effects. They typically contain chemicals to break down stains and mild abrasives to polish the teeth.

While whitening toothpastes can remove surface blemishes, they cannot lighten deeper stains or change the natural color of teeth.

Dentist-supervised whitening usually takes less than an hour per treatment and can penetrate and remove deep-set stains to produce dramatic results.

Advantages of Professional Teeth Whitening Over Bleaching Kits

DIY bleaching gels and strips are available to treat stains that go deeper than the tooth surface. Because they remain in contact with the teeth longer than toothpaste, they are more effective but can irritate your gums and increase tooth sensitivity.

According to the DocShop platform that helps people find healthcare professionals, some over-the-counter bleaching kits can harm tooth enamel.

Dentists can use stronger bleaching agents than you can buy over the counter, and these produce better results. The professional teeth whitening process is carefully monitored and protects your mouth from damage, and a combination of heat and light may be used to intensify the lightening process.

Home Whitening Trays on Prescription

You can also get custom-made whitening trays from a dentist for use at home. Store-bought trays can be uncomfortable because of a poor fit, causing the bleaching gel to leak and aggravate your gums. Dentist-prescribed whitening trays use a gel with a lower concentration of peroxide than monitored in-office treatment, posing little risk of gum sensitivity.

Health Benefits of Professional Teeth Whitening

Apart from cosmetic factors, professional teeth whitening provides oral health benefits. With the removal of stains during a professional whitening session, your teeth will become stronger and healthier, improving the condition of your entire mouth.

Reinforced by a good routine of oral healthcare at home, the results of professional teeth whitening are reliable and long-lasting.

Benefits of Personalized Teeth Whitening

The safest and most effective and comfortable way to get sparkling, healthy teeth is by seeking personalized, professional treatment, which can make your teeth several shades lighter, whether the discoloration is intrinsic, extrinsic, or age-related.

Professional teeth whitening is customized to your individual needs – with your dentist examining your teeth and taking X-rays – to provide the exact level of brightness you want. Your dentist will also advise you on how to help keep your teeth shining after treatment, with regular brushing and flossing, using a mouthwash, and avoiding certain drinks and foods.

Although a professional whitening session costs more than a single drugstore DIY product, it can work out less expensive than buying multiple whitening products before you see any results.

Professional teeth whitening is also a good investment to significantly improve your appearance and confidence. According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), 50 percent of adults believe a smile makes a lasting impression. Other studies have indicated that people with a good-looking smile are seen as more successful and smarter.

Customized professional teeth whitening will boost your self-assurance in all walks of life by eliminating embarrassment about your stained teeth and restoring your gleaming smile in no time.

How Professional Teeth Whitening Can Boost Your Self-Esteem

First impressions are important, and your smile says a lot about you. As well as making you appear more attractive to others, your smile also makes you feel better within yourself. However, if your teeth are discolored, you certainly won’t feel happy about showing them off with a beaming grin.

Professional teeth whitening achieves remarkable results by lightening both the tooth enamel and the underlying dentin, and the procedure can be tailored to the patient’s individual needs.

The key advantages of professional teeth whitening over store-bought whitening and bleaching products are:

  • Safe and effective treatment.
  • Boost in self-confidence.
  • Faster and longer-lasting results.
  • Supervision by a dental expert in the unlikely event anything goes wrong.

A dentist with experience in teeth whitening can help you decide whether this cosmetic procedure is the best way to get back your winning smile.