Do You Feel Confident About the Appearance of Your Smile?

Presenting our best self to the world requires confidence, and a bright, beautiful smile helps lead the way. If the appearance of your smile is making you hesitate to share it with the world, your dentist can help. One of the most common concerns my patients have about their teeth is staining and discolorations.

The color of our teeth is influenced and changed by many factors, some of which change the surface of the tooth, while others affect the color of the tooth on the inside.  The first step in creating a brighter, whiter smile is spending time with your dentist evaluating the cause of the discoloration and the underlying health of the teeth and gums.

What causes tooth discoloration?

Surface stain, caused most often by eating and smoking, can be removed by your dentist or hygienist, during an office visit. Once the teeth are healthy, clean and bright, you can help keep them that way in between your routine dental visits by cutting back on beverages like coffee, tea , cola or wine. If you are a smoker, you need to commit to the process of quiting smoking.

How to have a whiter, brighter smile

Regular brushing and flossing help maintain the health of your teeth and gums, and also reduce surface stain. Talk with your dental professional about whether using a whitening toothpaste or gel will help between dental visits to reduce the stain that builds up. Stay on a regular schedule of dental visits for professional tooth cleaning, as recommended by your dentist.

Bleaching, Bonding, Veneers

If you desire a brighter, more confident smile after the surface stain is removed, talk with your dentist about additional procedures such as bleaching, bonding and veneers. Your dentist can help you understand which of these options is the best way for you to have both long-term health and beauty.

Tooth bleaching has become a safe, efficient way for many people to brighten their smiles.  It is most commonly done using peroxide to remove both surface stain and internal discoloration. Oxygen form the peroxide enters the enamel and lightens (bleaches) the colored parts of the tooth. Your dental team can help you understand which bleaching method will work best for you.

Some causes of internal tooth discoloration may require bonding or veneers, often combined with tooth bleaching to create that beautiful confident smile. Your Pankey Institute trained dentist will inform you about the options best suited to you.

What is Whitening?

"Whitening" is any process that makes your teeth appear whiter. This can be achieved in two ways. A product can bleach the tooth, which means that it actually changes the natural tooth color.  Bleaching products contain peroxide that helps remove deep (intrinsic) and surface (extrinsic) stains. By contrast, non-bleaching whitening products contain agents that work by physical or chemical action to help remove surface stains only.

There are different  approaches to whitening your smile:

• Bleaching done at home
• Whitening toothpaste

There are several types of products available for use at home, which can either be dispensed by your dentist or purchased over the counter.

Bleaching solutions contain peroxide, which actually bleaches the tooth enamel. These products typically rely on carbamide peroxide solutions as the bleaching agent. Carbamide peroxide comes in several different concentrations, ranging from 10% to 22%.

Whitening toothpastes help remove surface stain through the action of mild abrasives, as do all other toothpastes. Unlike bleaches, whitening toothpaste does not alter the intrinsic color of teeth.

Are there any side effects?

The most most common side effects from whitening are tooth sensitivity and occasional irritation of the soft tissues in the mouth.  Tooth sensitivity often occurs during the early stages of bleaching treatment. If you have concerns about such side effects, you should discuss them with your dentist.