Your grandmother and all those dating websites are right: Your smile is the first thing people notice about you.
Having a nice smile — and a willingness to show it — can make you instantly more engaging and attractive to others. Letting people see your smile can have health benefits, too.
When you smile, you release endorphins, which can help relieve pain, reduce stress, and elevate your mood. Studies show that smiling can also help to lower your blood sugar and blood pressure, and even boost your immune system.
If you hide your smile because of a cosmetic issue like stained teeth, you can miss out on those health benefits, as well as opportunities to connect with others.
Professional teeth whitening can help.
At-Home Treatments vs. In-Office Options
We all want a beautiful, bright smile. The trouble is, most of us also love to eat and drink things — like coffee, tea, soda, red wine, chocolate, dark-colored fruits, and more — that can stain our teeth. Using tobacco can also have the same negative effect on our smiles.
While there are many affordable whitening toothpastes, strips, and over-the-counter teeth whitening products on the market, they can take significantly longer to whiten your teeth than the options available through your dentist.
If you try at-home teeth whitening products and don’t get the results you’re looking for, it
might be time to consult a professional.
The Power of Professional Teeth Whitening
Simply put, professional teeth whitening is the fastest, easiest, and most effective way to eliminate stains and whiten teeth.
In-office whitening can involve the application of a peroxide-containing gel, used with or without a light activated system, that accelerates and enhances the bleaching process. Another in-office procedure, known as “power bleaching,” features a concentrated solution of hydrogen peroxide in water — also with or without light activation — which may be applied for up to 30 minutes.
You can also opt for another form of whitening that utilizes a prescription-strength bleaching gel prescribed by your dentist. The gel consists of carbamide peroxide, which contains hydrogen peroxide and is highly effective for whitening your teeth. During an office visit, custom trays are made to comfortably fit your teeth, and the gel and customized trays are sent home with you to wear overnight.
Are You a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is best for individuals who already have healthy teeth. You should also have healthy gums. Teeth that are yellow are more likely to respond to the teeth whitening treatment. It should also be noted that teeth may only be able to be whitened several shades instead of becoming a bright white.
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should wait to get whitening. Children should be at least 16 before getting this type of treatment. Dental bridges, crowns, fillings, and/or restorations can cause teeth not to whiten the same way the rest of you teeth will. Consult your dentist for a strategy to produce a consistent look.
Want whiter teeth? Click here to schedule a consultation.
