Teeth whitening is the process of bleaching stained or dingy teeth to restore a youthful and healthful whiteness and luster. You can try to whiten your teeth yourself, using natural remedies and over-the-counter treatments, or you can opt for a safe, effective, professional teeth whitening treatment.
Although many products that are available over the counter (OTC) claim to whiten teeth, they may take months to work and don’t always make a dramatic improvement. In addition, they may cause tooth sensitivity, irritate your gums, and may degrade the enamel on your teeth over time.
Do-it-yourself natural remedies on the internet come with risks, too. Many rely on abrasives, such as baking soda or acids, including fruit acid, which may damage your enamel. In addition, they’re not very effective.
In contrast, professional teeth whitening can whiten your teeth by eight shades in just one hour while keeping your enamel safe. Dr. Bernuy uses professional-strength whitening solutions, which are stronger than OTC products but safer.
The most common reason for dull, yellow teeth is simply the aging process. Just as your skin becomes thinner and weaker with age, so does the enamel layer that protects your teeth. As your enamel thins, it can no longer mask the underlying yellowish, grayish color of your dentin, which is the inner portion of your tooth.
One of the advantages of professional teeth whitening is that professional bleaching agents reach deep into your tooth and remedy the dingy color of your dentin, too. Home remedies can’t do this.
However, the foods you eat and the beverages you drink can also stain the surface of your enamel. Red wine, coffee, colas — anything that’s deeply colored — can transform your pearly whites into a shade of yellow. Professional teeth whitening also breaks up the stains on the surface, creating a dazzling white smile.
When you arrive for your professional teeth whitening appointment, the team will first prepare your teeth with a thorough cleaning to get you the best results. Your provider may use gauze to keep your mouth dry and retractors to allow your jaw to relax and keep the more sensitive tissues of your mouth from being irritated by the whitening solution.
Using a specialized light activates the gel and gives you faster results. You may feel a slight warmth from the light or an overall tingling, but professional teeth whitening should not be uncomfortable and usually takes about an hour.
Instead of waiting months to see a modest improvement, you have a whiter, brighter smile in the same amount of time it takes to have lunch. We can even whiten teeth that are currently being treated by orthodontics. We offer free whitening to Invisalign patients.
To get your brighter, healthier smile with professional teeth whitening, contact Bernuy Orthodontic Specialist today by phone or online.