You’ve seen movie stars and your friends get great results from teeth whitening – but how does the procedure actually work? Our Windsor dentists shed light on how the teeth whitening process brightens your smile.
What is teeth whitening?
As we age, our teeth naturally become darker. This gradual discoloration can be caused by lifestyle factors such as drinking dark beverages such as tea, coffee, or alcohol, taking specific medications, smoking, and general wear and tear over the years.
Professional teeth whitening treatments use peroxide-based bleaching agents to lighten the colour of your teeth and reduce the appearance of surface stains. As the peroxide breaks down, oxygen acts on tooth enamel and creates a whitening effect.
Professional Teeth Whitening at Our Office
Professional teeth whitening in the dental office is a popular treatment for many patients, as we can usually complete the full process in one or two sessions.
During your in-office whitening treatment, the dentist will start by placing a rubber shield over your gums to protect them from the whitening solution.
The bleaching solution will then be applied to your teeth using a small brush-like applicator. Under a low-heat lamp, the solution will be left to work on your teeth for 15 minutes. Your hygienist will then clear the solution and reapply it.
This process usually takes approximately 1 to 2 hours. For some patients, one session may be enough, but depending on your specific case, you may require more treatments to achieve the whitening effect you had in mind.
Professional Teeth Whitening At Home
Look up “how to whiten teeth” online and you’ll soon find a wide range of at-home teeth whitening options. While these present one alternative, they are not quite as strong or as effective as the teeth whitening kits at our Windsor dental office.
Our teeth whitening kits include custom whitening trays and detailed instructions for whitening your teeth at home. In addition, your dentist will supervise the process, and the cost of teeth whitening may be less than with an in-office solution.
To begin, you’ll first need to visit the dentist so an impression of your teeth can be taken in order to create custom whitening trays to fit your smile. You’ll use these trays at home to apply the whitening solution yourself.
Once your trays are ready, you will return to the dentist’s office to confirm they are a good fit. Next, you’ll be sent home with the trays, the whitening solution, and clear instructions from your dentist.
At home, you’ll wear the trays for about 30 minutes every day for approximately 2 weeks, until you achieve the desired level of whiteness. Then, you can use the whitening solution to touch up your smile every 6 months or so.