Whiter teeth are more attractive than yellowed and stained teeth. People with whiter teeth are more attractive than people with yellowed and stained teeth. People with whiter teeth also feel and seem more confident, as is easily seen by how much more likely they are to flash their smile and those pearly whites.
How does teeth whitening work?
Bleaching products in teeth whiteners can lighten teeth by several shades. The bleaching is actually accomplished by the active ingredient hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Dentists use much stronger bleaching ingredients (up to 45% peroxide) than you’ll find in over-the-counter whitening products (approximately seven per cent peroxide) because they can do so safely and adjust the strength of the products to your needs. Over-the-counter bleaching products and at-home remedies do not resolve discolouration caused by the side effects of medication, infection, or trauma. Your dentist in Red Deer will be able to offer cosmetic dentistry options for those types of stains and discolourations.
What are your options for teeth whitening in Red Deer?
Whitening by a dentist near you
Your dentist can use the strongest bleaching products tailored to precisely your goals and oral health to achieve the safest and fastest possible results — in as little as one hour.
Over-the-counter teeth whitening kits
Over-the-counter whitening kits are available in many grocery stores and nearly every drugstore. DIY kits are less expensive than whitening by a dentist, but use bleaching compounds that are only one-fifth the strength. As a result, multiple applications may be required for less significant results. Repeated applications can result in damage to your gums.
Whitening at home with support from your Red Deer dentist
If you want to whiten at home but also keep your dentist involved, dentist-supervised at-home whitening offers the best of both worlds. After assessing your teeth and reviewing your goals, your dentist can dispense whitening trays to use at home, but made from stronger bleaching compounds than available in DIY kits.
Whitening strips
Whitening strips — thin, plastic strips coated with a mild bleaching compound — can be purchased at drug and grocery stores and applied to your teeth yourself. They’re commonly used twice a day for a couple of weeks but can cause gum irritation and tooth sensitivity. Because they’re not custom fit to your mouth, they don’t fit well or completely on all teeth which can lead to inconsistent results.
Whitening toothpaste
Toothpaste that is marketed to whiten your teeth doesn’t contain bleaching compounds. Instead, they use mild abrasives like baking soda, silica, calcium carbonate, and aluminium oxide to remove surface stains. For some patients’ teeth, whitening toothpaste is too abrasive to be a healthy option.
Just how effective any of these whitening products and services are will depend on the colour of your teeth and the cause of your discolouration. Before you embark on any cosmetic dentistry process, you should reach out to a dentist about teeth whitening in Red Deer. Ask them what they recommend for you and your goals.
Veneers
Veneers are thin shells frequently made out of porcelain that has been custom-made, shaped, and coloured to fit directly onto the surface of the tooth or teeth you want to alter. If your underlying tooth is healthy but has an unattractive colour or shape, you can hide it while simultaneously projecting a perfect tooth.
Change your habits
Once your teeth have been cleaned and whitened, you can keep them white by reducing your consumption of the most common staining substances: strongly coloured foods and beverages and — especially — smoking.
Aside from what you eat and drink, other habits can negatively affect the colour of your teeth. Clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth as you sleep can affect the colour of your teeth, especially along the edges. The motion and pressure of grinding gradually wear away the enamel, exposing the dentin layer which is yellowish in colour.
Teeth whitening in Red Deer can quickly change your appearance, self-perception, and outlook on life by illuminating your smile. If you’re ready to say goodbye to your stained, dull, and discoloured teeth, contact a dentist in Red Deer to discuss the best options for you and your teeth.