Teeth Whitening--An Economical Way to Enhance Your Smile

Seeing a lot of people with white shining smiles lately?  Teeth whitening remains extremely popular, and it is one of the most economical ways to enhance your smile.

Your smile creates an immediate, subconscious, visual impact on people you meet, and studies show that it makes you look years younger (younger people naturally have whiter teeth).  A brighter smile gives the impression of youth, vitality, radiant health, happiness, and warmth. A bright smile is perceived as a healthy smile.  We all want that Hollywood smile with big, white and shiny teeth. But most of us live in the real world filled with teeth staining necessities like coffee, tea, soda and maybe an occasional glass of merlot. So what do we normal folks do to get that Hollywood smile? Having a beautiful smile may be even easier than you think. Many people achieve the look they’ve been dreaming of with our simple bleaching procedure. In this blog Dr. Elzbieta W. Basil, DMD, cosmetic dentist with offices in West HartfordCenter and Downtown New Britain outlines how teeth whitening works, when to bleach, the available options, and teeth sensitivity.

How does teeth whitening (bleaching) work?

Deciduous (baby) teeth are typically whiter than the adult teeth that appear later. As we age, our adult teeth often become darker, yellower, or stained. This is partly why white teeth make people appear more youthful.

Just as there are a number of ways to lighten or brighten teeth, there are also several different ways for teeth to become discolored. The main causes of darkened teeth are genetics, antibiotics, and certain foods, plus teeth tend to darken as we age. Internal tooth discoloration is caused by changes in the enamel of the tooth and the dentin. The main causes of internal tooth discoloration are exposure to high levels of fluoride, tetracycline, use of antibiotics as a child, developmental disorders, tooth decay, restorations, root canal issues, and trauma.  External tooth discoloration is caused by factors outside the body, mainly foods and tobacco. The main causes of external tooth yellowing are smoking, foods with tannins, coffee, tea, carrots, oranges, and other foods.  

So how do teeth whitening agents get the stains out from “inside” your tooth? Most whitening gels (or sometimes called bleaching agents) contain an oxidizing agent in the form of carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. These ingredients are the active ingredient in most whitening agents. The gel reacts with the internal aspect of your tooth, mixes with the discolored areas, and breaks them apart making them appear whiter!

When to whiten?

If you are having dental work done to your front teeth, you would typically bleach first, then once you reach your desired shade, wait one week to allow them to stabilize before having dental work done. Have a wedding coming up? Whiten at least one month before the big day!

What are my teeth whitening options?

Make sure you talk with your dental professional to see what’s best for you, but here are your teeth whitening options:

• In-office bleaching – Pros: Quick, dramatic results—most effective option. Cons: Some sensitivity issues, most expensive option.

• Professional At-Home trays – Pros: Works for long term results, accurate to your teeth, decreased sensitivity, convenient.  Cons: more expensive than over the counter.

• Over-The-Counter White Strips – Pros: Cheap, can whiten a few shades  Cons: misses areas between and around teeth (uneven results), gets on gums, least effective option.

Dr. Basil has In-Office and At-Home treatment options to give you your whitest smile.  Unlike over-the-counter whitening products, professional whitening is customized to all of your visible teeth surfaces.  In office whitening offered by Dr. ElzbietaW. Basil, DMD in her West Hartford Center dental office and her Downtown NewBritain dental office, utilizes the latest version of the Zoom!® Whitening System. 

In-Office Whitening

The Zoom! Advanced Power In-Office Whitening System is a revolutionary tooth whitening procedure. It's safe, effective and fast. In about an hour, your teeth will be dramatically whiter. Zoom! Advanced Power Whitening is ideal for anyone looking for immediate results. The convenience of Zoom! Advanced Power in comparison to days of wearing trays and gradual whitening makes it the perfect choice for the busy individual.   And you'll look years younger!  Dr. ElzbietaW. Basil, DMD uses the latest generation Zoom! whitening system by Philips in her West Hartford Dental Office and her NewBritain office.  

Professional At-Home Whitening

Philips Zoom DayWhite and NiteWhite give you superior whitening results by utilizing high-potency gels with custom-molded trays, specially made to fit your teeth. Philips Zoom DayWhite and NiteWhite kits offer five different options to meet your needs. Sensitive teeth? Check. Dramatic results fast? We’ve got it covered. With Philips Zoom, Dr. Basil will recommend the right whitening formula strength for you to take home. You will be matched with the treatment that fits your lifestyle to achieve your best results.

My teeth are sensitive when I bleach!

If your teeth are sensitive during bleaching there may be an underlying cause, so as always, talk with your dental professional. If you have traditionally had sensitive teeth, use a desensitizing toothpaste containing potassium nitrate (Sensodyne, Crest Sensi relief, etc.) for at least one month before whitening. Also tell us if you are having sensitivity, as he or she may be able to lower the percentage concentration of the whitening product. Check out our blog on toothpaste selection.

If you want whiter teeth, know that you have many options. There is no one best option for all, so give us a call and find out which product will work best for you.

Keep smiling!