Teeth Whitening

Why do my teeth need whitening?

Tooth enamel is incredibly strong, yet it’s slightly porous, allowing it to absorb colored pigments. The pigments gradually discolor teeth, making them appear yellow or brown.

Teeth stains commonly come from:

Wearing traditional braces

Wearing traditional braces may lead to staining because brackets and wires make it difficult to remove food debris and bacteria. As a result, plaque accumulates, acids from bacteria weaken the tooth enamel, and staining develops.

Foods and beverages with dark pigments

A few of the top offenders include tea, coffee, red wine, red and blue berries, berry juices, tomatoes, curry, and soy sauce.

Acidic products

The acids in foods and beverages can gradually erode your tooth enamel. As a result, it’s more susceptible to staining. Products that are acidic and contain dark pigments, like coffee, cola, and red wine, are the worst.

Tobacco products

Any product you smoke that contains nicotine and tar can cause yellow and brown teeth staining.

What are the benefits of professional teeth whitening?

Professional teeth whitening performed in the office can dramatically whiten your teeth in about one hour. Over-the-counter bleaching products take weeks or months, and even then, they can’t produce the same degree of whitening.

In-office teeth whitening uses professional-strength bleaching products to give you whiter teeth. You can get more powerful bleaches in the office (and not in the local pharmacy) because Dr. Watts prevents irritation by carefully protecting your gums, cheeks, tongue, and lips.

When you undergo professional teeth whitening, Dr. Watts ensures that every tooth is evenly covered with the bleaching agent. Uneven application, which can happen at home, produces patchy results.

Who can schedule teeth whitening?

Virtually all teens and adults can have their teeth whitened. However, Dr. Watts first completes a dental exam to assess your dental health.

You need problems like cavities and cracks treated before teeth whitening. Otherwise, the bleach can penetrate through the weak enamel and potentially damage the nerves or pulp.

What happens during teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening begins by evaluating your existing tooth color and deciding how many shades lighter you want to go. A shade guide is a quick way to choose tooth color.

However, Dr. Watts may use the iTero® intraoral scanner to create a visual image of your teeth. He may also use the scanner to make an impression and customize the trays used to hold the bleach.

After you choose your teeth shade, Dr. Watts uses various devices (rubber dams, lip retractors, cotton rolls, and gels) to protect the soft tissues. Then, he applies the bleach, and you relax and let it go to work.

Ready to improve your smile? Call Montclair Orthodontics or book a teeth whitening appointment online today.