A lackluster smile can negatively impact a person’s confidence level. Many patients report covering their mouth when they smile due to embarrassment caused by yellowing or stained teeth. A laundry list of foods and beverages exist which contribute to staining and discoloration.
Many people are aware that coffee and red wine stain teeth, but soy sauces and dark beverages like soft drinks can also lead to tooth discoloration. Some patients prefer not to use light-activated bleaching systems in our office. For those patients, Ankeny family dentist, Dr. Amanda Foust, details her preferred methods for safe tooth whitening at home.
Bleaching Gels and Trays
One of the best ways to effectively and safely whiten teeth at home uses bleaching gels and trays. We can develop custom-fit trays for our patients to ensure gel makes contact properly with teeth. Unlike over-the-counter options, professionally prescribed bleaching kits are made to fit your teeth so gel should make minimal contact with gums. Patients using over-the-counter methods of tooth whitening often report gum irritation due to the ill-fitting tray allowing gel to come into contact with gum tissue.
Professional-strength bleaching kits use peroxides to whiten and oxidize teeth by penetrating enamel to aid in removing stains. Although some tooth sensitivity is reported after using bleaching gels, more sensitivity could occur from light-activated bleaching systems. Typically, tooth sensitivity can persist for 24 to 48 hours following an in-office whitening session where lights were used. For patients experiencing tooth sensitivity from at-home kits, we recommend lowering the exposure time per day.
Whitening at Home
For patients seeking dramatic results rapidly, in-office whitening provides the most expeditious solution. However, many patients don’t require eight shades of whitening in a single visit. For those patients, at-home tooth whitening provides an easy way to improve the appearance of their smile from the comfort of their own home. Our professional kits can also provide more potent results than typical over-the-counter whitening strips and gels.
Start Tooth Whitening Today
Are you interested in whitening your teeth from home? At Dental Impressions, we offer comprehensive dental care to patients of all ages and take-home whitening kits. Contact our 50021 cosmetic dentistry office by calling (515) 965-0230 to schedule an appointment today. We welcome patients from Ankeny, Polk City, Bondurant, Elkhart, Alleman, and all surrounding communities.
