Teeth Whitening
Teeth Whitening at KidZdent
Proper dental hygiene can certainly go a long way when it comes to keeping your teeth healthy, stain-free, and white! Good teeth cleaning habits will fight the presence of cavity causing bacteria and the food debris that leads to yellowing. A solid oral hygiene routine includes visiting our KidZdent team for preventive care twice a year.
However, no matter the precautions, whether it’s the aging process or one’s dietary habits, over time, tooth stains are inevitable. It’s always best when patients take the necessary and simple steps involved in preventing stains, like regular flossing, brushing and rinsing. Even with attentive home- care routines, discoloration of one or more teeth is typically the biggest cosmetic concerns of most patients. Are you considering teeth whitening to help reinvigorate your smile and recover the pearly white tooth color you were meant to have?
Professional teeth whitening is one of the most commonly performed treatments whether it’s an in-office procedure or at-home treatment option. However, if you have tooth decay or receding gums, whitening may make your teeth sensitive. Whitening also does not work most effectively on ceramic or porcelain crowns or veneers.
Some patients are ideal candidates for professional teeth whitening, where a bleaching solution is applied to the teeth with the assistance of specially designed trays. Patients have dental impressions taken and custom trays are fabricated to match their exact tooth position. These trays hug the natural contours and grooves of your teeth, enabling consistent and complete whitening of the enamel and patients are able to whiten their teeth in the comfort and privacy of their own homes. Since the bleaching trays are molded from a model of your actual teeth, patients have reduced risks of tooth sensitivity and gum irritation. Another benefit of custom bleaching trays prepared by your dentist at KidZdent is the ability to maintain your bleaching results by applying bleach for a night or two after your routine cleanings.
KidZdent also provides pre-made take-home whitening kits. Unlike store bought kits, our kits contain professional strength bleaching gel. This is a great alternative for patients that wish to brighten their smile with the ease and convenience of a store bought product.
Stains Best Removed by the Pro's at KidZdent
Professional whitening removes organic stains or discolorations primarily caused by two different types of tooth stains. There are two types of tooth stains.
- Extrinsic (Above the enamel) - Usually caused by lifestyle choices
- Intrinsic (Below the enamel) - Attributed to natural aging
All teeth whitening options at KidZdent/Family Orthodontics provide the following benefits:
- Safe
- Effective
- Pain-Free
- Yield immediate, visible results
Prepping the Teeth for Whitening
- Teeth will likely be given a prophylactic cleaning to clear away any plaque and debris that have collected on the surface and between the teeth.
- A dental exam will be performed (often in tandem with the prophylactic cleaning) to check for potential problems such as severe tooth decay, cracks and gum disease. Bleaches can cause varying degrees of irritation if these conditions are present. Our dentists will likely delay the procedure until such problems have been corrected if any should exist.
- Photos may be taken of your teeth, and their color measured on a shade guide. This provides a benchmark for assessing your progress.
Our patients can work toward keeping their teeth bright and beautiful by:
- Not smoking, chewing, or otherwise using products with nicotine
- Reducing coffee, tea, and red wine intake
- Drinking sodas and sports drinks through a straw
- Reducing the intake of dark foods like berries and sauces
- Washing away stain causers with detersive foods that stimulate saliva production such as apples, strawberries, celery, carrots, and pears
- Swishing water in mouth after eating or drinking so that stain causers don't sit on your teeth
Not only will these steps help you hold on to your new smile, but you can actually improve your overall oral health, reducing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Remember, a beautiful smile is often an indicator of a healthy one.
Get in Touch
Have questions or need any help from our team? Reach out to us below and one of our team members will get in touch with you as soon as we see your request.