Do you have unsightly brown and yellow stains on your smile? If you have discoloration, then you may benefit from cosmetic treatment, such as professional teeth whitening. In today’s blog, your Des Moines, IA, dentist discusses how we remove stains and help people enjoy their brightest possible smile, often from the comfort of their own home!
The Initial Office Treatment
The process starts with an initial office visit. We will take detailed impressions and measurements of your smile, which we use to create a custom set of trays from a plastic material. We also administer an initial whitening treatment. You then leave the office after an hour or two with a set of plastic trays and a powerful bleaching gel. The rest of the treatment will be done from the comfort of your own home, offering optimal results in as little as a week in some cases!
Trays and Gel
At home, you should fill the trays with gel and wear them for about 30 to 45 minutes each day over the course of a week to ten days. The trays help spread the gel evenly across your teeth and prevent saliva from weakening the bleaching ingredients. The gel then breaks up and removes stains, with some patients obtaining a smile brightened by several different shades. You then keep the trays and any remaining gel for touch-ups down the road as discoloration reappears. The system is designed to limit tooth sensitivity, and provide long-lasting results when compared to most store-bought options, such as toothpastes, rinses, or strips.
Keeping Them Bright
To help combat future stains, be sure you avoid foods with high amounts of sugar and starch. The particles left behind on your teeth can be broken down by bacteria, creating plaque buildup that makes stains more apparent. Also try to avoid sugary drinks as well! Beverages with dark pigments, such as coffee, red wine, soda, and tea, could also lead to more visible discoloration. To control plaque buildup and brighten teeth, try to brush for two minutes when you wake up and again before bed, and always floss thoroughly before going to sleep each night. Make time to see our team every six months too! A cleaning removes all plaque, and then we polish your teeth, offering a brighter appearance. If you have any questions about keeping your teeth vibrant, then contact our team today.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT TEETH WHITENING?
Our team can help remove discoloration and brighten smiles by several shades with professional treatment option. We also have other systems that reshape teeth, as well as brighten them, such a dental bonding and porcelain veneers. To learn more about our cosmetic treatment options, then schedule a consultation with Dr. Burds by calling Gateway Dental Group in downtown Des Moines, IA, at (515) 244-9565.