As one of the quickest and least invasive cosmetic dental procedures, teeth-whitening is a common choice for improving one’s smile by erasing highly-visible teeth stains. With a choice of application methods, our professional teeth-whitening treatments combine the convenience of over-the-counter products with the strength of professional dental care.
How Do Teeth Stains Develop?
To understand how teeth-whitening works, it helps to understand how teeth stain in the first place. The outer layer of your teeth, which is a semi-translucent layer of resilient mineral crystals, is exposed to every bite of food and sip of beverage you consume. Over time, the color molecules, or chromogens, in these substances cling to tooth enamel, changing the color and dulling the shine of your teeth. Teeth-whitening works by erasing enamel stains and oxidizing the tooth structure underneath, restoring your smile’s youthful, healthy glow.
Teeth-Whitening Choices
Convenience means choices, and at our Ankeny cosmetic dentist’s office, you can choose to brighten your smile in just a single visit, or from the comfort of your own home. Our custom-designed take-home whitening kit includes a set of form-fitting trays that you can use to apply to the whitening gel evenly over your teeth. In about 10-14 days, your smile will be significantly brighter, and free of unsightly stains. In the office, the gel is activated with a special curing light, and can achieve the same amazing results in as little as an hour.
Are Teeth Stains Preventable?
Though teeth stains can affect nearly everyone at some point, you can lessen their impact and prolong their effects on your smile by keeping your teeth clean and healthy with good hygiene and regular dental care. During your meals and snacks, keep a glass or bottle of water nearby to sip or rinse your mouth after eating. Water is highly-effective at neutralizing chromogens, as well as acids produced by oral bacteria that weaken enamel and make it more susceptible to staining.
ABOUT YOUR ANKENY COSMETIC DENTIST:
To learn more, schedule an appointment with your Ankeny, IA dentist today. You can reach Dental Impressions by calling (515) 965-0230. Since 2006, Dr. Amanda Foust has proudly treated families in Ankeny, Alleman, Elkhart, Bondurant, and all surrounding communities.
