Teeth stains are common, and so is the process of whitening teeth to erase the stains that develop on their surfaces. Because this is so common, many people are tempted to skip the middle man – their dentists – and buy whitening products over-the-counter to quickly address the problem. However, such solutions are rarely successful, and in addition to wasting time and money on them, they can also end up causing more harm to your teeth than good. Today, we examine why successfully brightening your smile requires professional teeth-whitening treatment, instead.
Ask your dentist if it’s the right option first
If you buy something at the store, there’s little chance you asked your dentist about it first. Despite it being a store-bought product, the application of anything to your healthy, natural teeth should be under the advisement of your dentist, and teeth-whitening is no exception. Most important, this allows you to ask your dentist to make sure whitening is the right option before you put your teeth through it. If your teeth stains aren’t what you think, then your dentist can tell you beforehand that whitening won’t work, and suggest a more appropriate solution.
Decide on in-office or at-home whitening
If your dentist decides that teeth-whitening is the right solution for your teeth, you can then apply the solution in a way that’s most convenient for you. For example, you can take home a custom-designed kit that allows you to apply the treatment just as conveniently as you would an OTC product. The bleaching agent is much more potent than a store-bought solution, though, and you can achieve highly satisfying results within just 10 days. Or, you can choose to let us brighten your teeth in-office, which we can accelerate safely with a special light to complete the process in a just a single visit.
Making sure the results stick
In addition to telling you if teeth-whitening is the right option and applying it for you, if you choose, your dentist can also give you tips on how to make the results stick to keep your smile brighter longer. For example, in addition to good hygiene practices, doing things like rinsing your mouth with water after eating (especially dark sauces and colorful foods) can help you slow down the development of teeth stains in the future. If you’ve chosen a take-home kit, you can also reuse the custom whitening trays to touchup your smile’s appearance if stains redevelop.
Ask us about teeth-whitening
If you want to brighten your smile, make sure your treatment will produce the results you want by speaking to your dentist first. To learn more, schedule an appointment or initial consultation by calling Advanced Dental Concepts in Auburn Hills, MI, today at (248) 852-1820.
