Few things can change your smile as dramatically as whiter teeth. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry makes it easier than ever before to whiten your teeth, either at home or at your dentist’s office. Are you considering teeth whitening treatments but have questions about what you should expect when you make an appointment for cosmetic dentistry in Newton ? Here are the answers to some common questions that patients have about teeth whitening.
Why have my teeth become stained?
Teeth become stained for many different reasons. Food and drink are the biggest culprits. As a general rule, anything that can stain your clothes can stain your teeth, so coffee, tea, red wine, berries, and colas can all leave telltale stains behind. Over time, the more your teeth are exposed to foods and drinks that cause staining, the more discolored your teeth will become. Smoking is another common cause of stained teeth. The stains caused by smoking tend to be deep and severe. Other factors such as genetics, age, and certain medications can also play a role in teeth staining.
How does teeth whitening work?
Teeth whitening treatments use a bleaching agent to remove surface stains from your teeth. When you get your whitening treatment done in your cosmetic dentistry office, you can get whiter teeth in as little as one hour. If you use an at-home treatment, the results take longer to develop, because the whitening agent isn’t as strong as what your dentist can use. However, some people prefer at-home treatments with a weaker solution because it causes less sensitivity.
Is teeth whitening effective?
Teeth whitening is effective in the vast majority of cases. Maintenance is required to keep your great results. Try to avoid eating and drinking foods that stain teeth, and if you smoke, stop. You may need periodic touch-up treatments to remove some of the stains that inevitably appear. In some cases, stains are below the surface area of the teeth and are not removed by whitening treatments. If this occurs, your cosmetic dentist may recommend that you consider veneers instead.
