Every morning, Madison wakes up and sleepily walks into her bathroom to brush her teeth. Every morning, she inspects her teeth and feels frustrated with how stained they appear. She finds herself covering her mouth during meetings at work and holding back smiles when she’s with friends. The stains on her teeth are always occupying part of her mind and self-image.
Causes of teeth staining:
- Coffee, tea, and wine
- Aging
- Tobacco products
- Some medications
- Poor oral hygiene
Madison isn’t sure how to whiten her teeth. She’s heard that over-the-counter teeth whiteners don't work that well, can cause sensitivity, and might be bad for her teeth. But she’s not sure how easy or affordable professional teeth whitening is.
There are several ways to whiten your teeth. Bleaching products, applied using trays filled with a bleaching agent, are the most common kind. These products are widely available at many stores.
And likely, you’ll get results by going this route. However, these products aren’t as strong as dental-grade whitening tools, don't last as long, and won’t give you the dramatic results you can achieve through professional teeth whitening in Allentown, PA.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Take-home whitening kits use generic trays for the whitening gel, which can lead to uneven application and whitening. At Evolve Dental Care, we take customized impressions of your teeth and use those to make trays for you. This ensures even application and whitening.
We offer both take-home trays, for your convenience, or in-office whitening. For at-home teeth whitening, we’ll create your custom trays and temper the whitening gel strength to minimize tooth sensitivity.
You’ll put the gels in the trays as directed and wear them on your teeth for about 20-30 minutes every day for a couple of weeks. You can stop using them whenever your teeth are the desired shade of white! You can also use the kit for touch-ups as needed.
Alternatively, for powerful teeth whitening in about an hour, you can make an appointment at our Allentown office. We’ll use a proactive barrier along your gum line to protect your tissue, then we’ll coat the surfaces of your teeth with a powerful whitening gel called carbamide peroxide.
The gel is left on your teeth for 20-30 minutes, and we’ll use a fluoride application to stop tooth sensitivity.
Is Teeth Whitening Permanent?
Teeth whitening is not permanent. How long it lasts depends on lifestyle habits such as oral hygiene and whether you consume foods or drinks that can stain your teeth. Professional teeth whitening can last 1-3 years, depending on how you maintain your teeth.
Here are some of the things you should minimize eating or drinking to prolong your whitened teeth:
- Coffee
- Red wine
- Sodas
- Tomato sauce
- Beets
- Dark teas
You don’t need to avoid these foods at all costs. Just remember to brush your teeth after consuming them.
Considering Teeth Whitening? Give Us a Call
There’s no reason to live with shame about discolored teeth. If you're looking for a dentist in Allentown, PA, who can whiten your teeth, we’d be happy to talk you through your options and help you decide what’s right for you. Stop hiding your smile from the world and let your personality shine through!
