Bright Smile Teeth Whitening

 

BRIGHTEN THE HOLIDAYS WITH A BRIGHT SMILE!

The holiday season is in full swing with Christmas music playing on the radio, Christmas shoppers at the malls, and holiday parties to attend.  Then with holiday parties come wine drinking, hot chocolate, and apple cider!

But did you know some drinks and food such as wine, blueberries, and tea may stain your teeth? 

Your dentist can tell much about your health just by looking in your mouth.  Yellow stained teeth may mean you are a smoker and dark black and grey stains may mean you are an avid coffee drinker.  Your hygienist can help brighten your smile with a dental cleaning by removing superficial extrinsic teeth stains, plaque, and tartar buildup.

After your dental cleaning, you may want a whiter, more youthful smile.  If this is the case, there are some teeth whitening options to consider.

IN-OFFICE BLEACHING 

In the past, the in-office bleaching technique took longer and had post-operative tooth sensitivity.  However, more recent systems such as ZOOM whitening and BOOST whitening have reduced teeth sensitivity with advances in chemistry.  Some whitening gels now include photo-reactive and catalytic substances to break down the hydrogen peroxide (the tooth whitening agent) at a faster more efficient rate which produces more oxygen ions to shorten whitening times.  Specific wavelengths for bleaching lights have also been identified which generate less heat and discomfort.  In-office teeth whitening systems require less time and have less post-operative teeth sensitivity which make it a very convenient and comfortable option.

For extreme cases of intrinsic internal stains such as tetracycline induced stains, full porcelain crowns or porcelain cosmetic veneers may be necessary to accomplish the desired esthetics.

AT-HOME BLEACHING

At-home whitening systems have become increasingly popular.  Particularly for harder to remove stains such as internal intrinsic tetracycline staining, it may be necessary to use both the at-home and in-office teeth bleaching systems to maximize teeth whitening.  This type of system requires an impression of your upper and lower teeth to make customized bleaching trays which you then take home along with a teeth whitening gel kit. 

OVER THE COUNTER TOOTH WHITENING

Milder cases of extrinsic staining may be done with over-the-counter teeth whitening products.  These whitening products tend to be popular as they can be very cost-effective.  However, the whitest results may not be achieved due to their generic nature.  Crest 3D White Strips is a popular and fairly effective option for at home bleaching.
 
Ask your dentist which teeth bleaching system will give you the results you want.  By keeping up with your routine dental exams and cleanings and choosing the right teeth whitening system, you will be well on your way in obtaining the brightest smile for family and friends over the holidays.


From your gentle family dentist in Bellevue and Redmond,
Dr. Miki Suetsugu
Dr. Peter Chien
www.bellevuefamilydentistry.com
(425) 614-1600

Teeth Whitening At the Dentist

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening has become a popular part of cosmetic dentistry, and is easy to do!  Thinking about getting your teeth whitened?  What is it like getting your tooth bleached?  Ever wonder what exactly it is?  How and why does it work? 

A tooth has essentially three layers: enamel, dentin, and pulp.  Enamel is the hard outer layer, dentin is the softer inner layer of the tooth, and the pulp is where the nerve and live tissues are.  Children's teeth (baby teeth) are naturally white when they first erupt.  Over time, as people age and permanent teeth erupt, teeth become less porous and the teeth appear darker and stained.

FOODS THAT CAUSE DARK AND GREY STAINS

Foods and drinks such as tea, wine, soy sauce, coffee, blueberries, and betel nuts can cause dark and yellow stains within the enamel of the teeth.  Over time, the stains can penetrate the enamel layer and the dentinal tubules, causing teeth to appear grey, dark, and yellow.  Other products than can also cause teeth staining include coke, certain antibiotics like tetracycline, and excessive fluoride.

HOW TEETH WHITENING WORKS

Bleaching products use hydrogen peroxide that interacts with water to form carbamide peroxide.  The peroxide travels within the enamel tubules to the dentin, breaking down the stains in the enamel and dentin.  Teeth thus appear to be whiter and brighter as the stains are dissolved and the enamel and dentin are more porous in the process.

TEETH WHITENING WITH STORE PRODUCTS

In the store, one can purchase whitening toothpastes, paint-on gels, and whitening mouthwashes.  These products may contain a mild abrasive that remove very mild extrinsic surface stains.  Some companies such as Crest sell whitening strips, which can help remove mild to moderate dark stains.  Most of these products contain very little hydrogen peroxide and have not been tested, so such whitening effects may not be as effective.

IN-OFFCE TEETH BLEACHING

• The dentist can fabricate custom whitening trays for one to do tooth whitening at home.  Once molds of teeth are taken and trays are made, one places a hydrogen peroxide gel within the custom trays.  The trays are worn over a period of two to three weeks.
• Some dentists also offer same day bleaching.  A high concentration of carbamide peroxide gel up to 40% is placed on the teeth for a duration of 25-30 minutes and repeated two to three times.  This method is effective against moderate to heavily stained teeth due to the gel concentration, and usually takes a single 90 minute session.

TEETH WHITENING SIDE EFFECTS

Dental bleaching is relatively safe but as with any dental procedure there are side effects.  Tooth whitening side effects include minor cold/hot tooth sensitivity, gums irritation from the hydrogen peroxide gel, and lingering tooth sensitivity to cold.

Interested in teeth whitening?  Be sure to consult with your family dentist.  Tooth bleaching can be a regular part of your regular dental care; you and your dentist can discuss which whitening method may be appropriate.

From your gentle family dentist in Bellevue,
Dr. Peter Chien
www.bellevuefamilydentistry.com
(425) 614-1600

Single Tooth Whitening

 

TOOTH WHITENING

Do you have a single "dark colored" tooth?  Have you ever thought about getting it whiter so it blends in with the adjacent teeth?

Sometimes a single tooth can be discolored if it previously had root canal treatment.  If so, one option is to have that single tooth internally bleached.  How does it work?  Also called "walking bleach technique" your dentist may place either a high concentration of 35% hydrogen peroxide, carbamide perioxide, or sodium perborate.  The solution is left internally within the tooth for a few days, and the tooth is then re-evaluated for shade.  This internal bleaching is then repeated again if necessary.

This single tooth non-vital tooth whitening method is fairly noninvasive, and can be a conservative option compared to a veneer or crown.  Talk to your dentist to see if this "walking bleach technique" is right for you.

From your family Bellevue dentist,
Dr. Peter Chien
www.bellevuefamilydentistry.com
(425) 614-1600

Whiten your teeth naturally... with strawberries!

A natural and alternative method to teeth whitening you can try at home is to use strawberries and baking soda.  The malic acid in the strawberries, together with the baking soda, can help remove minor extrinsic stains on the tooth enamel from foods/drinks such as tea, coffee, and certain dark juices.  Baking soda is a natural soft abrasive that is a good toothpaste substitute, though it does not have Fluoride.  The combination of the baking soda and the strawberries' malic acid may be just effective enough to help lighten your teeth.

Check out the article here: http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20410846,00.html

Warm regards from your family Bellevue Dentist,
Dr. Peter Chien
www.bellevuefamilydentistry.com
(425) 614-1600