Human teeth chew through a lot of material over the decades, and years of exposure to stain-causing pigments, dyes, and tannins can leave a smile with unsightly stains and discoloration that will not respond to conventional oral hygiene methods. Fortunately, professional teeth whitening treatments from your dentist can lift even stubborn stains and discoloration and leave a smile up to eight shades brighter. Here’s a brief guide to how the process works and how many treatments you may need.
How Does Professional Teeth Whitening Work?
While you may find many brands of teeth whitening products on the shelves of your local supermarket or pharmacy, these methods can lead to lackluster results and possibly injuries due to user error or poor manufacture. Professional teeth whitening treatments, on the other hand, are administered by a qualified dentist to ensure that they can safely produce impressive results in brief timeframes. Professional teeth whitening comes in two forms:
- An in-office procedure: Your dentist can perform a procedure at their office that can brighten your smile in about an hour.
- A take-home kit: Your dentist can provide you with a kit that includes customized dental trays and professional-grade whitening gel. You’ll only need to apply the gel to the trays and wear them for about an hour daily for two weeks to achieve a brighter grin.
How Many Teeth Whitening Sessions Will I Need?
While many patients will find that they only need one teeth whitening treatment to achieve their desired results, two or more sessions may be necessary to treat issues like:
- Especially severe stains
- Stains located beneath the enamel
- Stains caused by age, genetic conditions, medication, or tobacco use.
How Can I Keep My Smile White After Teeth Whitening?
Your teeth will be especially vulnerable to developing new stains immediately after being whitened, so it will be best to stick to a soft, mild, white diet to prevent sensitivity as well as new discoloration. A few excellent choices include milk, mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, white fish, chicken, and yogurt. You’ll also need to practice excellent oral hygiene to prevent new stains as well as infections.
The results of your teeth whitening treatment can last for three years or more depending on how well you take care of your teeth, and you can receive retreatments as needed to maintain your ideal smile. Consulting with your dentist can help you find the best way to achieve your brightest grin.
About the Practice
Center One Dental Family & Cosmetic Dentistry offers outstanding oral healthcare to the people of Canonsburg. Led by Dr. Raj Vekariya, the staff ensures that each patient enjoys courteous service and compassionate care as well as effective treatments. Areas of expertise include general, restorative, emergency, and cosmetic dentistry such as teeth whitening. To book your cosmetic dental consultation, contact the office online or dial (724) 300-3700.