|
Maybe you have always wanted a beautiful white smile. Or maybe your teeth have yellowed over time. No matter your reason for wanting a whiter, brighter smile, teeth whitening is safe and effective. According to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), whitening has been proven successful in 90 percent of patients and is best suited for patients with teeth darkened from age, coffee, tea, smoking, medication or heredity. From whitening toothpastes to bleaching at-home or in-office, there is a whitening solution for your smile. How does Teeth Whitening Work? Whitening, or bleaching, can be performed either in your dentist's office or at home. At-home whitening is the more popular approach to a sparkling smile today. Your dentist will make an impression of your teeth to make a custom-fitted tray, which you will fill with a whitening gel to wear for up to two hours daily or at night for approximately two weeks. When performed under the supervision of your Boynton Beach cosmetic dentist, at-home whitening is very effective. In-office whitening can also be performed in as little as one hour with your dentist. You may have to return for several visits to achieve the desired whiteness, but in-office whitening has often been proven more effective than at-home whitening. After the bleaching solution is applied to your teeth, a special light may be used at five-minute intervals to help activate the whitening agent. While at-home and in-office whitening procedures are safe and effective, your dentist will recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for you depending on the state of your teeth and the results you wish to achieve. What Factors Affect the Color of My Teeth? Some people are born with teeth that are more yellow than others, while many people experience staining with age. Your natural tooth color can also be affected by surface stains and internal stains. Surface stains, otherwise known as extrinsic stains, are often caused by:
* Tobacco
* Drinking coffee, tea or red wine
* Eating highly pigmented foods such as cherries and blueberries
* Accumulation of tartar deposits, resulting in the formation of hardened plaque
Internal stains, also known as intrinsic stains, can be caused by:
* Treatment with the antibiotic tetracycline during the time when teeth are forming
* Yellowing or graying of the teeth as part of the aging process
* Trauma to the teeth that may result in the death of the tooth's nerve, giving the tooth a brown, gray or black color
* Ingesting too much fluoride when teeth are forming No matter the reason for your tooth discoloration, there is a whitening treatment for your smile.
Everyone responds differently to different whitening procedures. Some respond well to whitening toothpastes, while others with more serious discolorations may require porcelain veneers or bonding to achieve the smile they have always wanted. Only your Boynton Beach dentist can determine what is right for you.
Sean Hartmen writes for leading dentist in Boynton Beach, FL, Dr. Lorne Tomalty and Dr. Jordan Tomalty of Tomalty Dental Care. Since 1978, Tomalty Dental Care has been working with patients to provide the best cosmetic dentistry care for patients in the Florida area, including services in implants, veneers and teeth whitening in Boynton Beach.
|
