Are you thinking about brightening your smile?
Are you confused, overwhelmed or simply curious about the various options?
Here are some important things to consider so you can make the best decision for your smile.
Many people wish to brighten their smile. Some choose whitening toothpastes or other over-the-counter products, but this simply removes surface stains and does not work to change the color of the underlying tooth structure. In order to truly whiten your teeth, a bleaching agent. At Sheehan Dental Buffalo, we offer Opalescence Go 15% Mint flavored kit. This comes with pre-filled trays that you wear 15-20 minutes a day for 5-10 days, depending on your results. The trays are comfortable and adapt easily to your smile. There is no need for impressions, lab fees or custom trays!
Before you begin a bleaching regimen, you should ALWAYS seek your dentist’s opinion and have your regular check-up and cleaning. Your dentist will carefully evaluate your teeth, help your determine your current shade and determine if your teeth will whiten well. In general, teeth that naturally have a yellow shade tend to see better results than those who have a gray shade. Your dentist can also provide you with sensitivity toothpaste, which should be used a week or two prior to starting treatment, as well as throughout the bleaching process. This helps decrease the occurrence or severity of sensitivity that often occurs during tooth whitening. Your dentist will also want to evaluate your existing dental restorations (crowns, tooth colored fillings, etc). It is important to note that dark stains, crowns, tooth-colored fillings (composites) DO NOT BLEACH and therefore may stand out if you whiten your natural enamel. You may want to replace any crowns or fillings after your bleaching is complete in order to better match your new shade. Keep in mind, if you decide to bleach prior to the placement of necessary fillings or crowns, you will need to maintain bleaching long term, as your enamel will stain over time but porcelain will not.
Tooth Bleaching: Keeping Teeth White
If you decide that you would like to brighten your smile, you can help maintain the results by brushing, flossing, and rinsing daily. It is also important to keep your regular 6 month cleaning appointments. Avoiding acidic and tannin-rich foods and beverages will also help maintain your results. Some people drink staining beverages from a straw to minimize the contact with enamel. Tobacco products also stain teeth quickly. Common staining foods/drinks include:
• Black teas and coffee
• White and red wine
• Sports drinks
• Carbonated beverages (dark and light-colored sodas)
• Berries and other strongly-colored foods
• Sauces (soy, tomato, curries)
Please note, pregnant or nursing women, people with gum disease, worn enamel, cavities, and exposed roots should not whiten their teeth.
Keep in mind, your teeth will stain again over time. Diet, age, genetics, and habits (such as smoking) will affect your results over time. A quick touch-up, as needed, will help maintain your results.
Call us today to pick up your Opalescence Go whitening kit! (716) 828-2295.