Teeth Whitening

How do teeth lose their whiteness?

There are a few ways your teeth can lose their color. The most common cause is poor oral hygiene and eating or drinking staining substances. Some common consumables that can stain your teeth include:

• Coffee
• Tea
• Soda
• Berries
• Tomato-based sauces
• Cigarettes
• Chewing tobacco
• Wine

Your teeth can also turn dull or discolored as a result of medications, like:

• Certain antihistamines
• Certain antipsychotics
• Tetracycline antibiotics (if exposed before the age of eight)

Lastly, your teeth naturally lose their whiteness as you get older. As you age, the hard enamel on the outside of your teeth wears down, exposing the soft dentin within your teeth. Your dentin naturally turns yellow as you get older, leaving your smile discolored.

How do you whiten my teeth?

Most professional teeth whitening involves treating the surfaces of your teeth with some form of hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide works by penetrating your enamel, going beneath the surfaces of your teeth to break up the stain-causing pigments. When these pigments are broken up, more of your natural tooth color can show throw, making your smile appear whiter and brighter.

Is it safe to use a store-bought whitening kit?

Over-the-counter whitening kits are never a good idea for your smile. The generic strips and trays in these store-bought kits aren’t designed for your particular smile, so the bleaching gel frequently leaks out and irritates your gums.

Even when the whitening gel does manage to stay on your teeth, your smile won’t get as bright as it will with a professional treatment because the bleaching agents aren’t as strong as what you can get at Union Square Dental.

If you want to truly whiten your smile with a safe treatment, let the team of experts at Union Square Dental do it for you.

Does teeth whitening hurt?

Teeth whitening is a minimally invasive procedure that shouldn’t produce any pain or discomfort. Some patients do notice increased sensitivity after their whitening treatment, but that can be easily treated by switching to a toothpaste that’s designed for sensitive teeth. Speak to your dentist if you’re experiencing discomfort after your teeth whitening.

Get the whiter, brighter smile you’ve always wanted by scheduling a teeth whitening appointment with Union Square Dental today. You can request your visit by calling the Union Square Dental office or using the convenient online booking tool.