Did you know that teeth whitening is the treatment that patients request most often? In fact, Americans spend more than 15 billion dollars a year to whiten their teeth.
If you are interested in whitening your smile, you can choose to visit your dentist or to buy an over-the-counter kit. But, if you are going to invest in a brighter smile, wouldn’t you rather enjoy the best possible result? In fact, did you know that certain issues with your smile could ruin your teeth whitening, especially if you use an over-the-counter kit? Conversely, a dentist can recognize these problems and adjust your whitening accordingly.
For example, if you whiten over a plaque buildup your teeth may be colored unevenly. While you may think that the best way to prevent this problem is simply brushing your teeth thoroughly before you whiten, a toothbrush and floss can’t remove all of your plaque. However, with specialized tools, a dentist or dental hygienist can. Similarly, teeth with fillings or bonded teeth won’t change color, which can ultimately leave you with different colored teeth.
The health of your mouth should also be considered. If this important step is ignored, the normally painless whitening process could be incredibly unpleasant. For instance, if you have an exposed nerve, a cavity, broken teeth, or broken fillings, the bleach solution used in whitening could cause pain. Also, while it is normal for your gums to be slightly irritated during whitening, if your gums are inflamed before whitening, you may experience severe irritation for longer than necessary.
Are you interested in learning more or scheduling an appointment with our team? If so, please feel free to contact us today.