When you have discoloration, this could cause embarrassment and you may even try to hide your smile. To offer a solution that brightens teeth by several shades, your Des Moines, IA, dentist may suggest professional teeth whitening. In today’s blog, we have a step-by-step guide to this process.
The Causes of Discoloration
How do stains form on our smiles? A number of factors could be responsible. For example, when we eat foods high in sugar and starch, this removes particles for bacteria to break down, creating plaque that causes stains to be more visible. Drinks with dark pigments could also discolor your smile, such as coffee, tea, soda, and red wine. Smoking cigarettes and using other tobacco products could discolor smile too. Poor oral hygiene habits could also be a factor too! The cause and severity of your staining is a factor in which option we use to brighten your teeth.
The In-Office and At-Home Steps
For most cases, we can use professional teeth whitening to brighten the smile and remove discoloration. The process starts with an initial office visit, in which we use gel and a light to brighten the teeth. We also create a set of custom plastic trays. The trays and a gel will be sent home with you. The trays will be filled with gel and worn for about 30 to 45 minutes each day. The gel then breaks up and removes stains, and trays ensuring even results and preventing the gel from being diluted. For most people, optimal results are available in a week to ten days. Smiles could be up to eight shades brighter! The trays and remaining gel can be kept for touchups in the coming months too.
How to Keep Teeth Bright
To help smiles stay bright following treatment, be sure you brush and floss daily, which removes food particles and limits the impact of plaque and tartar buildup. You should also see us every six months for a cleaning, in which we remove plaque and polish the teeth. At home, try to drink more water instead of beverages with dark pigments, and eat a healthier diet too. Cutting back on sugar and starch helps prevent major buildup. These actions can help you maintain the brightness of your smile. If you have any questions about teeth whitening, then contact our team today to learn more. We want to help you enjoy your best possible smile!
TALK TO YOUR DES MOINES, IA DENTIST ABOUT COSMETIC DENTISTRY
We would like to help you find the best option for removing stains and helping you enjoy a brighter smile. To find out more about how we brighten teeth with our professional treatment options, then please contact your Des Moines, IA, dentist, Dr. Burds, by calling 515-244-9565.