Teeth whitening: Is it really possible to have a brighter smile?

A person’s teeth become discolored over time for a number of reasons. Certain food and beverages, such as coffee and red wine, can leave lasting stains when they are consumed regularly. Smoking can also stain the teeth, as can certain medications. Additionally, the teeth’s enamel grows thinner as a person ages, exposing the yellow dentin beneath.

Thanks to treatments offered by DFW cosmetic dentists, no one needs to be relegated to a dingy smile. A variety of whitening techniques can bring brightness back to your pearly whites.

Most teeth whitening treatments administered by cosmetic dentists are based on the same basic process. A bleaching gel is applied to the teeth, and the active ingredient, often a peroxide, oxidizes the stain particles trapped between the crystal-like structures found in the enamel. The underlying dentin is bleached as well.

Cosmetic dentists can provide a variety of options for teeth whitening. Some patients choose to wear custom-crafted trays containing the whitening gel overnight. This approach exposes the teeth to the whitening agent for several hours each day, and results typically become visible within three to five days. For optimal whitening, your dentist may recommend wearing the trays for 10 days to two weeks.

Other patients may select laser whitening, particularly if they need to achieve noticeable results in a short timeframe. In these cases, the whitening gel is activated with lasers, speeding up the oxidizing reaction. Patients have a number of 15-minute sessions with the laser with brief intersession breaks. The entire process takes about an hour.

Prior to engaging in any whitening treatment, patients should have a professional cleaning at the dentist’s office to ensure the best outcomes.

Unfortunately, no teeth whitening treatment is permanent, and the teeth will collect more stains as time passes. Patients will need to undergo additional treatments periodically to maintain their initial results.

If you long for pearlier whites, consider teeth whitening treatments. Click here for a list of the best dentists in DFW to choose a cosmetic dentist who can help you achieve your goal of a whiter, brighter smile.