Understanding Teeth Whitening

By R.S. Mayberry, DDS

Mayberry Dental

. https://www.mayberrydental.com/

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Understanding Teeth Whitening

Over the last several years, people have become very interested in whiter teeth. Let's face it, first impressions are vastly important in this day and age. A radiant smile automatically registers feelings of trust.

This has created a huge increase in the number of whitening products on the market and a great deal of confusion for consumers on how they should whiten their teeth.

We are inundated with advertising about “whitening” toothpastes, gels and strips that you can buy at your local pharmacy or grocery store but do they really work?

First, let's look at whitening toothpastes. There is no doubt that keeping food stains off of your teeth is very important in keeping your teeth white. However, at best, these toothpastes are not making your teeth any whiter than a hygienist could by polishing your teeth. This is because whitening toothpastes do not actually whiten your teeth once stained, they just slow down the rate at which tartar and plaque build-up on your teeth.

What about the over-the-counter whitening gels? Because whitening only occurs when the solution is in contact with the tooth surface, gels produce limited results. This is because the gel is hard to administer due to the fact that saliva, food or drinks wash the product off the tooth surface. Gum irritation can also occur if application is not exact.

Probably the most promoted whitening product on the market today is whitening strips. These are tape like strips containing a whitening agent that is held in place by the tape. Strips you buy over-the-counter are mildly effective over the long run, but in order to obtain the level of whitening provided by your dentist, you will probably need to use four to six boxes of over-the-counter whitening strips and they do not work well for crooked teeth or between teeth.

Your dentist is really the only source for truly effective methods of whitening your teeth. Most dentists provide several options for accomplishing this depending on your goals and timeline. At Mayberry Dental we have two options for our patients. A customized take home tray system that includes custom take-home trays and whitening gel, and, for those in a hurry, we offer the BriteSmile^TM system. This system is the option most people choose for both the whitest and quickest results.

If your teeth have not been cleaned recently we also recommend that you have them cleaned first to remove any tartar buildup as your teeth will not bleach under the tartar.

Our goal is to help you understand the whitening process, answer any questions you may have, help you feel as comfortable as possible on the day of your bleaching and assist you throughout the process.

To help you choose the system that is right for you we offer a free whitening consultation to help you understand your options and how white you can expect your teeth to be.