Whether your smile has become discolored because of age, antibiotics, or even coffee and cigarettes, if you’re dissatisfied with your grin, it’s time to make a change.
But tooth whitening isn’t as easy as buying an over-the-counter solution. Here are five things you need to know about teeth whitening:
- Whitening toothpaste can only go so far. They’re helpful for removing surface stains, but whitening toothpastes won’t change the color of your teeth. Some even contain abrasive ingredients that can increase the sensitivity of your teeth or even erode your enamel.
- You may have stains that won’t whiten. Professional tooth whitening isn’t always the best option to give you that natural, white smile you crave. In some cases, it may be necessary to cover your stains using porcelain veneers or lumineers. These cosmetic dentistry procedures are resistant to future staining.
- It’s possible to over-bleach your teeth. It’s fairly easy to spot someone who abuses over-the-counter whitening treatments. These bleaching can cause a bluish discoloration, translucent-looking teeth, and gum irritation. Professional tooth whitening kits produce less damaging, more effective, and longer-lasting results.
- At-home and in-office whitening treatments are available. Our tray bleaching tooth whitening procedure involves custom trays and bleaching gel that you administer at home, putting you in charge of your whitening process. Our ZOOM! in-office tooth whitening can be administered at our Philadelphia dental office in about an hour – that’s one lunch break to a bright, white smile!