An educated person is our best client. Please do your research before deciding on your teeth whitening
treatment. Ask questions if you're not sure which treatment to choose. You do not have to do anything specific
other than lightly brush your teeth staying away from the gum line before coming in for your teeth whitening
treatment. Please DO NOT floss before your appointment. Having your teeth cleaned and scraped before your
teeth whitening treatment may help with the process, but it is not necessary to have your teeth cleaned and
scraped at the dentist prior to your whitening treatment.
We do recommend you have your usual 6 months regular check-ups at the dentist. There are many causes for
tooth staining. The most common include genetics, aging, consumption of staining substances (smoking, coffee,
tea, and colas), tetracycline (antibiotic) staining, excessive fluoride, and old fillings. Whitening toothpaste can
remove stains that are on the outside of the teeth. Dentists call this extrinsic staining. However, teeth whitening
toothpaste and professional dental cleanings will not change the color or intrinsic staining of the teeth. That is
why teeth whitening is also sometimes called tooth bleaching is so popular.
Cosmetic teeth whitening is considered one of the safest and anti-aging procedures available in dentistry. The
procedure consists of three to four 15-20 minute sessions. A fresh layer of teeth whitening gel is applied after
each session as the old gel is removed from your teeth. Teeth Whitening works by exfoliating stains from inside
your teeth to bring them back to their natural color. We will measure your initial shade, and the final shade to
see how many shades lighter you got. But there is no way to predict how many shades lighter your teeth will
get beforehand. The whitening process removes stains that we all accumulate over the years from coffee, tea,
juice, soda, fruits, and berries, sauces, salads, etc…The final shade is your natural tooth color, which is unique
for everyone.
Unfortunately this is not true! The effects of your lifestyle will have an impact on how quickly and how
much your teeth will stain again. Eating fruits and vegetables, drinking red wine, coffees, dark sodas, tea
and smoking will cause your teeth to stain your teeth more quickly than going without these foods.
But it isn’t all bad news; it is unlikely that your teeth will stain back to the point where they were before
your treatment. And, to help counteract the fact that your teeth will stain again, we recommend having
your teeth whitened every 3 to 6 months so you can keep your pearly whites. In the meantime, try
drinking those staining liquids through a straw and by rinsing your mouth with water after every meal
will help keep those pesky stains away.
Most clients experience no sensitivity because of our protective wax used to protect the gum line. A very
small percentage may feel some sensitivity, but it is short-term and gone within 24-48 hours. If you are at
all concerned, we offer a desensitizing gel to help.
By now, you probably know that certain lifestyle choices lead to your teeth staining. Drinking coffee and
tea, poor oral hygiene, dark sodas and smoking are the top lifestyle choices that can lead to teeth
discoloration. But, if these are not things you have issues with and are still struggling with yellow teeth,
chances are, the issue is a little deeper than that. Generally, people can have different shades of teeth. The
hue is mainly determined by the dentin (the second layer of hard tissue and typically softer than the
enamel); enamel is in fact translucent, hence the underlying dentin, which is yellow, reflects so the color
seen is usually light yellow. Discolored dentin could be caused by multiple factors, ie: medications and
your genetics. Having a thin enamel layer on your teeth will also cause the dentin layer to show through
more clearly. Even in the same individual, the different types of teeth can have different shades. For
instance, the canine has more bulk of dentin and thus appears more yellowish than the others. Even in a
single tooth, the color varies. The part of the tooth closer to the gum appears more yellowish than the part
close to the edge. The good news is that there is still a way to whiten your teeth even if your dentin layer
is to blame for yellow teeth. Our whitening process whitens all the way down to the dentin layer, by
gently lifting the stains one layer at the time. Allowing your teeth to look brighter and whiter!
Tannins are natural chemicals that give plants defense against hungry, leaf-eaters (like yourself), according to
Scientific American. They also happen to be what gives the tea the deep, complex flavor that you know and
love. They may taste great, but they're what gives your tea that dark color that clings to your white enamel (the
outer layer of your teeth), leaving stains and dulling your smile. When it comes to drinks, it's not just the darker
hues you have to look out for. There are some light-colored culprits too. White tea can erode your enamel and
white wine is even more acidic than red! Try to limit your intake. When you do have them, swish with water to
get off as much residue as you can. Whenever possible, use a straw to limit the liquid's contact with your teeth.
Sip through a straw when drinking tea both iced and hot to minimize its contact with teeth.
Swish with water after drinking a cup of tea to clean your teeth before the stains can settle.
Switch to something lighter, like a Green tea. Black teas are more likely to stain.
Brush right away with a whitening toothpaste that is formulated to remove stains.
Tea's caffeine content is diluted, which makes it a great alternative to coffee.
Tea's caffeine content is diluted, which makes it a great alternative to coffee.
Does tea stain your teeth? Yes, it does, but if you follow these tips you can avoid teeth staining and still start each day with a Bright White Smile
When it comes to drinks, it's not just the darker hues you have to look out for. Wipe off as much residue as you can. Whenever possible, use a straw to limit the liquid's contact with your teeth. Brushing twice daily is important to help maintain a smile!
Avoid any dark staining drinks such as Tea, Coffee, Red Wine, colored or alcoholic drinks and fruit juice.
Avoid all dark staining foods like bolognaise, soy sauce, red meat, chocolate and all fruit except bananas.
Avoid any foods or drinks that would leave a stain on a white shirt.
No Smoking for 24 hours, smoking a cigarette within the first 24 Hours will stain your teeth. The moderate use of electronic cigarettes is OK.
Avoid colored toothpaste (red or blue) or Mouthwash for 24 hours.
Will not change color to your natural enamel.
Over the years the natural teeth enamel may have gotten stained or the shade was never matched perfectly in the
first place. You have the option to look in the mirror after each session to decide when it’s time to stop the teeth
whitening. If you are unsatisfied with your current bonding, veneer, or crown you should also consider replacing
them as an option. We will consult with you before starting the treatment to answer all your concerns and
discuss all your possible options. Previous dental work does not change color. Crowns and veneers are made of
porcelain, the shade of which cannot be changed. That doesn’t mean that you should not do teeth whitening if
you have a crown, veneer, or a filling on a front tooth. Often the color of the restorative work is actually lighter
than the rest of the teeth.
White, shiny teeth are considered healthy, beautiful teeth. But, what happens to cause those dull, white spots
that stand out on teeth, and are they healthy? Those dull white spots are usually the result of a loss of minerals
in the enamel layer of the tooth. But why does it happen? Some surprising causes of those white spots are…
Another example of the negative side effects of smoking, smokers are not just risking their own teeth. Pregnant
smokers run the risk of damaging the unborn baby’s teeth. Teeth form early, well before the baby is born.
Therefore, save your baby from weak spots and lifelong tooth struggles, and avoid tobacco while pregnant.
Normally, we think of fluoride as a good thing for teeth, and it is. But, a condition called fluorosis can happen if
you get way too much fluoride. The people most likely to suffer from fluorosis are children; their smaller bodies
have lower capacities for fluoride. That’s the reason all toothpaste that contains fluoride advise carefully
supervising children while brushing and using a pea-sized amount of cleaner. Of course, fluoride in proper
amounts is still good for teeth, especially in childhood when teeth are growing in, so it’s important to check with
your dentist if you have concerns about whether you or your child are getting the correct amount of fluoride.
CariFree Gels come in fluoride-free and fluoride-containing varieties to help meet your needs.
A diet short in calcium deprives your body of the building blocks of healthy enamel. In fact, several minerals
that are part of a healthy and balanced diet help build up tooth enamel, and not having enough minerals available
can mean your teeth pay the price with white, demineralized spots. Interestingly enough, celiac disease, because
it causes the intestines to malfunction and not absorb nutrients, can cause a significant amount of demineralized
white spots on the teeth.
Bacteria love to grow on teeth. Cavity-causing bacteria particularly love to grow in the high acid environment
that results from eating. Poor brushing technique of the teeth will let the bacteria continue to flourish. Braces
and other glued in dental appliances can make it more difficult to brush well. It’s important to be vigilant about
brushing well, particularly when wearing braces, to keep cavity-causing bacteria from stripping minerals away
from teeth, causing the white spots that easily progress to cavities.
We count on medicine to make us healthy. Unfortunately, some medicines have been known to cause white
spots on tooth enamel. One reason why certain antibiotics are not approved for use in children. Make sure if
you are pregnant or nursing to share that information with any doctor prescribing medication for you. Please do
not share prescriptions, and use medications exactly as prescribed. If you do end up with white spots after
medical treatment, see your dentist for help treating them (and making sure you’ve identified all possible
causes).
A high fever in a child can cause the dreaded white spot on the tooth, linked to the loss of minerals on that spot.
While it may not be your first thought to keep your child brushing their teeth through about with the flu, it is
important to encourage proper hygiene when possible. Even a gentle swipe with the toothbrush and plain water
can also help rehydrate a dry mouth and remove some plaque acids. Many of us have white spots or streaks on
our teeth, often we may not realize they exist. We’ll inspect your teeth before starting the procedure and point to
any white spots we find. They’re often covered up by stains and don’t show up prominently. The white spots
may have been caused by previous orthodontic treatment or may be genetic. As we remove the stains from teeth
with whitening, white spots will become more prominent. The white spots will also get even brighter because
they will whiten as well. Usually, after a few days, the white spots will blend in a bit more. But expect them to
possibly stand out more in the beginning.
For the first 48 hours, the pores in enamel are open, they can absorb stains faster than before. As rule, anything
that stains a white shirt will stain your teeth. We realize that the diet is very restrictive. Please do your best, if
you happen to eat or drink something you shouldn’t then brush your teeth or rinse with water right after. If you
plan on drinking coffee please use a straw, to expose only the back to coffee.
Inside every tooth are millions of microscopic "dentinal tubules" that extend from the nerve (pulp) inside the
tooth to the outside surface of the tooth. There's the fluid inside these tiny tubes and when this fluid moves
inside the tubes, it causes sensitivity. Minerals from saliva normally plug up the open outer ends of the tubes,
preventing fluid movement and most of the sensitivity. All bleaching gels tend to dissolve these "plugs"
allowing the fluid in the tubes to move and cause some sensitivity. Dental sensitivity is the most common issue
surrounding teeth whitening-and it can happen to anyone, with almost any method. But, according to Dr. Rod
Kurthy, DDS, a recognized expert in the field of whitening science, "how severe the reaction depends on each
individual and three important factors: genetics, bleach stability, and acidic reaction."
Teeth Sensitivity during and after teeth whitening is an important concern for our clients. However, we want
you to be comfortable during and after the procedure. While 90% of our clients complete the entire treatment, it
is important to understand that completing the three or four 15-minute sessions of teeth whitening is not for
everyone.
Teeth Sensitivity during and after teeth whitening is an important concern for our clients and our office. We
monitor our clients closely and encourage them to let us know when they start feeling sensitive. Zinger
Sensitivity is a “zing,” or a “zap” that your teeth may feel during the teeth whitening procedure. One or two
zingers are normal but more than that means that it’s time to stop. Our clients generally get good results even if
they’ve completed just 2 sessions.
Sensitivity is the body's natural way of telling you that it’s time to stop. In a recent survey of clients who had
teeth whitening in our office; 89% reported little or no sensitivity after teeth whitening, 9% of our clients
reported some sensitivity, 2% of our clients reported discomfort for the first 24 hours. Although moderate to
severe sensitivity is rare, unfortunately, a small percentage of our clients will experience some discomfort after
the whitening. We always try to encourage everyone to stop when their teeth start to feel sensitive, it’s not
always easy for the client to stop before sensitivity increases. Taking an anti-inflammatory such as Ibuprofen,
Advil, Aleve, etc…relieves the nerves inside teeth that got inflamed during the whitening treatment. Tylenol is
not an anti-inflammatory, Tylenol works best when taken in combination with an anti-inflammatory. We
recommend taking 400mg (2 pills) every 4 hours if sensitivity persists. Certain toothpaste such as Sensodyne
can relieve sensitivity. At home, we recommend applying the toothpaste for sensitivity to your teeth for 5-10
minutes. Certain toothpaste such as Sensodyne can relieve sensitivity. At home, we recommend applying the
toothpaste for sensitivity to your teeth for 5-10 minutes.
Tetracycline stains are dark, and the deeper they go into the tooth, the darker the stain gets. Ordinary teeth
whitening solutions do not always have a good effect. It is fortunate that some of these stains can be treated.
Tetracycline teeth are often hard to whiten but you will see improvement.
Although teeth whitening is a very safe procedure for most. Doctors do not recommend any elective procedures
for pregnant women. Even if the risk is just 1% it’s still something that's not worth taking. There has not been
any harm ever reported, it’s just not a risk worth taking.
Please be realistic on the results of your teeth whitening treatment and understand the teeth whitening machines
do NOT whiten your teeth alone. Using a high-grade whitening solution is needed for the best results. Teeth
whitening results cannot be predicted.