If you don’t want to do it yourself, how can dentists whiten your teeth for you?
If you want to leave your DIY efforts to gardening and home decorating, ask your dentist to perform in-office teeth whitening near you in one of several possible ways.
Customized whitening trays use stronger bleaching compounds than are available in DIY kits to produce much more dramatic results faster with specific tailoring of the process to any tooth sensitivity, your specific stains and any particularly problematic teeth. The staff at your dental clinic in Edmonton can even provide an at-home version of those kits after assessing your teeth and customizing the bleaching compounds. Many dentists use the Zoom teeth whitening system which combines customized whitening trays with special lights and lamps to accelerate the whitening effects. Dentist-supported whitening is more expensive than DIY options but you get what you pay for in terms of quick and dramatic results, customized applications, targeted treatment and professional support and advice about dealing with stains that can’t be whitened way.
If you do want to whiten your teeth yourself, what are your options?
DIY kits from drugstores and grocery stores — and even available online — may, when used as instructed, and with time may gradually show some whitening effect on some stains. They will not work on all stains or nearly as quickly or dramatically as whitening options from a dentist in Edmonton. We’ll suggest how a dentist can help, below. Here are the DIY options you may want to consider:
Teeth whitening toothpastes are inexpensive and require no changes to your regular routine, but will only help gradually with the slightest discolourations. “Paint-on” whitening is a bleaching agent in gel form contained in a pen-like device. It’s suitable for occasional touch-ups and can even be applied with a brush, but often with uneven results due to inconsistent application. Whitening strips are the most popular DIY whitening option that will gradually produce a whitening effect when used as directed, but can not be customized or targeted to specific stains. One can even order one-size-fits-all whitening trays online that contain whitening gels to wear at home. Because of their one-size-fits all nature, whether they’ll fit you and your teeth or produce consistent results is an open question.
Are you a good candidate for teeth whitening?
Theonly one who can answer that question accurately is a dentist in Edmonton who is familiar with your oral and general health, the condition of your teeth and the causes of the stains and discolourations affecting your teeth. Having said that, here are some considerations to keep in mind to determine if you are not a good candidate for teeth whitening in Edmonton, including:
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If you experience significant teeth sensitivity because the bleaching
compounds can exacerbate that sensitivity. If you do want to pursue teeth
whitening, be sure to do so through a dentist who can take that into account
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If your teeth are extremely deeply stained, those stains may not be
completely removed by bleaching. Your dentist can advise you of the best way to
approach those, either with a dentist’s stronger compounds or other solutions
such as veneers
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Most prior dental work can not be whitened (though it can be cleaned).
If cleaning that dental work doesn’t achieve the look you’re looking for, ask your
dentist in Edmonton if that dental work can be replaced or covered to improve
your appearance
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If you are pregnant, you should wait to have your teeth whitened until after
completing breastfeeding. Beyond teeth whitening issues, always let your
dentist know if you’re pregnant, planning to become pregnant or breastfeeding
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If you’ve had your teeth whitened recently, a dentist near you may recommend you wait before having them whitened again. Whitening your
teeth too often can affect your enamel. Your dentist will give you tips for
maintaining your teeth as white as possible for as long as possible between
your teeth whitening sessions. Teeth whitening performed by a dentist in
Edmonton can last as long as two years as long as you follow those tips.
What should you do to keep your teeth as white as possible for as long as possible?
Here are four common-sense tips for keeping your newly whitened teeth — whether you whiten them yourself or a dentist whiten them for you — as white as possible for as long as possible:
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Avoid certain foods and beverages most likely to stain our teeth,
including tomato- and soy-based sauces, red wine, coffee and tea, and some
fruits. When you enjoy those things, be sure to rinse and brush your teeth
thoroughly afterwards
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Brush your teeth twice daily and, ideally,
after eating
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Choose a toothpaste with whitening ingredients
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Attend dental checkups regularly and have your teeth cleaned annually. Cleaning
isn’t the same as whitening, but cleaner teeth stay whiter longer because your
dentist and their team will remove all accumulating plaque and tartar.
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