Almost everyone would like to have a whiter smile. Years of drinking coffee, dark colas, red wine, eating dark chocolate or red pasta sauce can leave your smile less white than it used to be. Some patients visit their local drug store and hope the claims on the packaging that promise to bleach and lighten teeth are true. Others brush their teeth aggressively every day with whitening toothpaste in a hope that it will remove the discoloration.
Unfortunately, drug store products often leave patients frustrated with the results, or worse, with sensitive teeth or damaged enamel. The best way to whiten your teeth is under the care of a trusted dentist. Dr. Terry Vines of Pure Gold Professionals in Dentistry offers patients several options for teeth whitening that can deliver the results patients want without compromising the health of their teeth. In fact, teeth whitening is the easiest and safest cosmetic treatment for improving your smile.
Dr. Vines’ in-office whitening system lightens teeth several shades in only one session. The treatment solution is applied to your teeth with a protective gel protecting your gums. The solution is activated with a special light as you sit and relax. The session typically lasts less than two hours.
Dr. Vines also offers at home whitening trays for those patients who prefer a more gradual approach done in the comfort of their own home. Dr. Vines will take impressions of your mouth, which are used to create customized trays. At home, you fill the trays with a whitening gel and apply them while reading, watching TV, or even driving to work.
Regardless of the whitening treatment you select, there are several ways to help your teeth stay whiter longer. First, try to avoid foods that can stain or discolor your teeth. If you can’t give up your coffee or soda habit completely try to reduce the amount that you drink, drink it with a straw so that it doesn’t touch the front of your teeth, or brush your teeth afterwards. Additionally, you should follow good brushing and flossing habits at home and have your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year. You can also switch to a whitening toothpaste, but you should only use it a couple of times each week. Using it more often can cause your teeth to become sensitive or can damage the enamel.
For more information about teeth whitening, call Dr. Terry Vines today.