By William Nerestant, DDS
With the weather getting hotter and hotter, the summer months are right around the corner, and that means wedding season is upon us. Whether you’re the bride or groom, a bridesmaid or groomsman, or going as a guest, it is a special day for all involved, and special occasions like that means there will be an abundance of pictures being taken.
Outside of looking good for your wedding photos, having a brighter smile can lead to improved self-esteem. There are several reasons why you might lose your brightness over time, and these factors lead to extrinsic and intrinsic staining.
Extrinsic stains occur on the surface of the tooth and are caused by behaviors like tobacco use or consumption of highly pigmented foods or beverages. Intrinsic stains involve tooth surfaces beneath the enamel. They can be related to aging. Whitening treatments can be effective on extrinsic and intrinsic staining.
Teeth whitening is a simple process. Whitening products contain one of two tooth bleaches (hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide). These bleaches break stains into smaller pieces, which makes the color less concentrated and your teeth brighter!
There are a variety of options when it comes to teeth whitening. Stain-removal toothpastes that have the ADA Seal of Acceptance for stain removal can help remove surface stains. There are also in-office or at-home bleaching methods, and even over-the-counter options.
The most important aspect of teeth whitening is scheduling a meeting with your dentist to discuss the best option for you, because teeth whitening isn’t for everyone, like children with mixed dentition. Other factors to consider with whitening is it does not work on caps, veneers, crowns or fillings. It also won’t be effective if your tooth discoloration is caused by medications or a tooth injury.
Teeth whitening offers a chance to restore your smile to the one you used to have or have always wanted. If you think this is a treatment you’d like to look into, call out office today to schedule an appointment with one of our experienced professionals.
