Your smile says a lot about your personality, which is why many of our patients ask for professional teeth whitening. If you haven’t gotten results from over-the-counter toothpaste, strips, and trays, we recommend seeing our teeth whitening dentist.
Our office is able to whiten your teeth by several shades in just one appointment thanks to our professional whitening treatments. Continue reading to learn how you can achieve a whiter, healthier smile, both in our office and at home.
Avoid Staining Foods and Drinks
If you want to keep a naturally white smile, you’ll want to limit certain foods and drinks. Coffee is one of the biggest culprits behind tooth discoloration. While we understand that coffee provides that much-needed boost of energy as you’re trying to get out the door in the morning, it can also stain teeth over time.
Even if you don’t stop drinking coffee completely, you might want to cut down on how much you drink each day. Other foods that can stain your teeth include wine, tea, tomato sauce, and berries.
Brush and Floss Daily
Plaque is an invisible film of bacteria that lives on your teeth. Over time, plaque buildup can increase your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Hardened plaque (tartar) can also give your teeth a yellow or brown-colored tinge. One of the best ways to is to brush twice a day and floss once daily.
Most dentists agree that you’ll need to brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes at a time. If we still find plenty of plaque and tartar on your teeth, we may recommend adding a fluoride mouthwash to your oral hygiene routine.
Schedule Your Teeth Cleaning
Brushing and flossing your teeth at home isn’t enough to fully protect your oral health. You’ll also need to make sure you schedule a teeth cleaning with our office to remove plaque and tartar from teeth. Only a dental professional will be able to remove tartar from teeth.
If you have a lot of tartar buildup, your smile will look slightly whiter after your appointment. Your dental hygienist will use a tool called a scaler to gently scrape plaque and tartar from teeth.
Get Professional Teeth Whitening
Interested in teeth whitening at home? Our dentist may recommend custom teeth whitening trays to help you . Professional teeth whitening treatments contain higher concentrations of potent ingredients than over-the-counter whitening options, meaning you’ll see results sooner.
Over-the-counter whitening products can also damage your teeth. Many patients report increased tooth sensitivity after using over-the-counter whitening strips and trays, and products that contain charcoal can wear away the natural enamel of your teeth. Once that enamel is gone, it’s gone forever.
Our teeth whitening treatments are safe for the long-term health of your teeth. While you might notice some sensitivity during the treatment itself, this will go away after your teeth whitening is complete.
Call Us Today!
If you’re self-conscious about your smile, our can help. To make an appointment, call R. Peter Maly DDS at (248) 347-3700!