Teeth whitening options: what works, what doesn’t!

Yellow teeth are caused by internal stains and/or external stains. Different options are available to whiten stained teeth. In this guide, we are discussing the most common teeth whitening options to achieve white teeth.

In office professional whitening

Recent dental advancements and innovations have presented with great products and services, one of which professional office whitening. While teeth whitening has been there for decades, all the new innovations are focused on achieving less sensitivity and better results in fewer sessions. Dental offices offer different methods to achieve white teeth. Zoom teeth whitening is used very often in dental practices and is recognized by many patients as one of the leading products in teeth whitening. The brand is owned by Philips.

Stains on the teeth can be caused by external sources such as highly pigmented food or drinks, wine, coffee and teeth. A list of common food and drinks to cause teeth staining show which food to avoid to prevent yellow teeth. In-office whitening uses hydrogen peroxide which is triggered by concentrated blue light. According to manufacturers, patients are able to get up to 8 shades whiter within sessions. We believe that other factors may affect the results such as the degree of stains, the presence of internal stains, the status of the tooth and others. Therefore, Consulting a dental professional before starting any whitening treatment is highly recommended. Click here to learn more about Zoom whitening cost.

The procedure is simple. The soft tissues including the lip and the gums are isolated and protected. The bleaching gel is applied in 15 minutes intervals. Brushing the teeth with sensitive toothpaste is highly recommended as some patients may experience little sensitivity after the procedure. Also, patient is advised to stay away from drinks and food that may discolor teeth such as smoking. Zoom whitening is not recommended for children and pregnant women. Ask your local dentist for more information.

If you are interested to know more about Zoom whitening, please call (905) 465-0026 to schedule your free whitening consultation or visit us at 2544 Speers Road, Oakville, ON L6L 5W8 if you have any question about teeth whitening.

zoom whitening oakville

At-Home teeth whitening

At-home teeth whitening is a great option for people with sensitive teeth or for someone who want to control the results. Hydrogen peroxide is use as the bleaching gel but with less concentration compared to the professional office whitening. Many options are available including mouthrinses, strips, custom trays and whitening toothpastes.

The pros to using at-home whitening systems are that they are affordable and can be used anytime depending on the instructions. Many dentists don’t recommend the whitening toothpastes because to are a bit rough on the teeth and many people may develop recessions in the gums or more teeth sensitivity.

Take-home whitening trays

Trays and strips are great alternative as you don’t need to scrub the bleaching agent against the teeth. Trays made for you by your dentist with a take home whitening kit is an advantage because they snug fit on the teeth that will prevent any gel leaking. Another benefit of the the tray is that is will isolate the teeth and prevent diluting the gel by the saliva. Depending on the percentage of peroxide in the product, extended use can be harmful to your teeth, or using the product improperly could cause damage. Always follow the instructions and if you feel any discomfort, consult with your dentist.

Whitening strips

whitening strips

Whitening strips are great alternative for whitening trays. They provide flexible texture to make the strip comfortable when applied on the teeth. The downside is that it hard to use it on overlapped teeth or situations with missed teeth. They come with different concentrations. Crest WhiteStrips is one of the common used brands and can be purchased from local pharmacies.

Whitening Toothpaste

Normally peroxide is not used in whitening paste as it foams if its brushed against the teeth. Therefore, the added ingredients are abrasives like silica or baking soda in some whitening toothpastes. Care should be exercised when brushing with whitening toothpastes as it may cause enamel loss, recession(gum migration) and possible increased sensitivity. 

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Are you looking for a local dentist in Oakville for teeth whitening, check this article: Should I seek teeth whitening in Oakville?

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Bronte Road Family Dental

Bronte Road Family Dental
2544 Speers Road, Unit 7, Oakville
(905) 827-4434

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