Does At Home Whitening Work?

Does that perfect smile still feel frustratingly out of reach? From the abundance of over-the-counter teeth whitening treatments available at drugstores to the DIY remedies for stained teeth touted online, it might seem like there are more ways than ever to achieve the brilliant smile you’ve always longed for. However, it’s crucial to do your due diligence when researching whitening treatments, as some of these products may actually end up abrading the protective enamel and weakening your teeth in the long run. Don’t let your desire to achieve a blinding smile blind you from being an informed patient – read on to figure out what whitening option is best for you!

Why Do My Teeth Look Dull?

If you want to make sure your smile stays pearly-white for a lifetime, being able to recognize the root causes of teeth discoloration is integral! Formerly white teeth can become dull and discolored for a number of reasons, including the following:

• Tobacco usage — the tar and nicotine chemicals it contains are notorious for staining teeth! Tar is naturally dark and nicotine is colorless until encountering oxygen, at which point it takes on a dull yellow hue
• Frequent consumption of highly pigmented and/or acidic drinks
• • Coffee, tea, and red wine all contain chromogens, intensely-pigmented compounds that adhere to tooth enamel
  • Black tea and red wine are also rich in tannins, which enhance the chromogens’ ability to stick toe enamel
  • Acid-heavy sports drinks and sodas can also soften enamel, making it more susceptible to staining
• Certain medications — teeth darkening is a potential side effect of some antipsychotics, anti-allergenic treatments, and chemotherapy
• Age — teeth enamel will naturally thin over time as a result of brushing and eating

Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic Stains

There are actually two primary kinds of dental stains: intrinsic and extrinsic. Extrinsic stains, which result from external sources such as tobacco, food and drink, etc., are the most common culprits when it comes to discolored teeth and can be easily dispelled with professional whitening treatment.

Intrinsic stains occur from within, and can arise as a result of genetics, medical conditions, medications, and/or traumatic injuries to the mouth. If you have intrinsic stains, you should consult your dentist for a diagnosis of what’s causing them in the first place in order to receive the most effective treatment — since most whitening procedures only target the outer layers of the teeth, they might not be sufficient to combat internal discoloration.

How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

All whitening products contain one of two bleaching agents: hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Both peroxides break up the chemical bonds comprising stains on your teeth, clearing them away to reveal only newly brightened enamel!

In-Office Tooth Whitening

While the cost of in-office whitening is higher, this method provides a number of benefits that make it worth the extra cost. First, your dentist can ensure that you are a good candidate for tooth whitening treatments since whitening might not be advisable for those with gum disease, tooth decay, or many prosthetics or restorations. Also, in-office systems provide a higher level of safety, and your dentist will correct the intensity and length of treatment to reduce the amount of sensitivity while still providing stellar results. Here are two of our top choices for in-office whitening:

Zoom! Whitening

Zoom! Whitening treatments use innovative Blue LED light technology rather than lasers to brighten your smile faster. In addition, the Zoom! System uses Amorphous Calcium Phosphate (ACP) to provide increased tooth luster and better enamel protection while reducing overall sensitivity during and after treatment. These in-office treatments are proven to whiten your teeth up to 8 shades in just one 45-minute appointment.

Take-Home Bleaching Trays

As we mentioned earlier, dentist-supervised at-home bleaching is the way to go if you want to save a little bit of money and go slower on the whitening process. You will need to come into the dental office and get fitted for your custom-made bleaching trays. The dentist will take an impression of both your top and bottom teeth and send them to a lab. Once the lab creates your trays, you can return to the office to make sure they are a perfect fit. Your dentist will then provide safe, effective bleaching gel and instructions for how to use it with your trays.

The bonus? You can perform touch-ups at home by simply purchasing additional bleaching gel when your teeth accumulate stains again. And, you will have the experience and guidance of a dental professional in case you experience any adverse events such as tooth or gum sensitivity. Best of all, the tooth whitening process happens over a period of a few weeks, making it perfect for individuals who don’t want to look like they “had work done.”

Ready for a Brighter Smile?

Are you ready to turn up the wattage on your smile a notch or two? At Downey Dental Arts, we help all our patients in the Downey, CA, area achieve their whitest, brightest smiles in a safe and healthy way. In fact, we offer two whitening options to our patients that far outpace at-home products — the Zoom! Teeth Whitening Treatment for practically instant results or dental bleaching trays for slower, yet still brilliant, results.

For our busy Downey clientele, we offer flexible appointment times to make it easier for you to get access to our state-of-the-art teeth whitening services.

Turn up the volume of your smile with leading-edge tooth whitening technology. Contact us at (562) 445-3363 and book your appointment for a safe, effective tooth whitening treatment today.