Did you know that a growing number of Americans believe that a bright, white smile has a direct link to success in life? If you’ve never made an attempt to whiten your teeth, you probably have a ton of questions about teeth whitening in Clyde, NC. Luckily, we’ve got the answers you’re looking for.
Frequently Asked Questions About Teeth Whitening Treatments
Am I a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
If you have healthy gums and teeth, then you can benefit from a professional teeth whitening treatment. This procedure can effectively remove stains from tobacco, tea, coffee, and tetracycline.
What Are the Benefits of Professional Teeth Whitening?
Compared to store-bought whitening kits, professional teeth whitening is much safer for your tooth enamel and more effective at achieving the whiteness level you desire. Under your dentist’s supervision, you can expect your treatment to yield bright results after a single application. With potentially damaging over-the-counter kits, you may have to wait for a few weeks before you get noticeable results.
Why Shouldn’t I Use DIY Whitening Kits?
People choose DIY whitening kits for the price and the convenience they offer. However, it’s extremely easy to overuse these products. When overused, they can cause painful dental sensitivity or tooth enamel damage.
While store-bought whitening kits use a one-size-fits-all approach, professional teeth whitening provides you with treatment that’s customized to meet your unique needs.
How Often Should I Whiten My Teeth After My First In-House Treatment?
It all depends on your oral care and lifestyle habits. If you practice excellent oral care, avoid smoking, and consuming highly pigmented foods and drinks that can prematurely stain your white smile, no touching up may be needed for about a year or even longer. However, if you smoke or drink a lot of wine or coffee, you may have to touch up your smile six months after your first in-house treatment.
Can I Still Whiten My Teeth If I Have a Cavity?
Tooth decay, cavities, and other existing dental health issues should be addressed before you attempt to whiten your teeth. Keep in mind that bleaching products can be very strong. If these chemicals get into your cavities, they can potentially cause considerable damage to your teeth.
Does the Procedure Hurt?
Although teeth whitening procedures may cause slight discomfort in the gums and dental sensitivity during or after treatment, these side effects will disappear within a matter of days.
What Do I Need to Do If I Experience Tooth Sensitivity After the Whitening Treatment?
You can significantly minimize this if you follow your dentist’s instructions. Besides avoiding foods and beverages that are hot, cold, very sweet, or sour, you’ll also want to use an ADA-recommended toothpaste that’s specially formulated for sensitive teeth.
How Many Shades Whiter Can My Teeth Get?
Since the results depend on how discolored the teeth were originally, the amount of whitening can vary from patient to patient. However, teeth may generally lighten anywhere between six to twelve shades on your dentist’s whitening shade guide.
Teeth that are easiest to whiten are yellow, brown, or uniformly darkened teeth. Heavily stained teeth may require additional whitening treatments before the desired shade is achieved.
Should I Get My Teeth Whitened Before Getting a New Crown or Veneer?
Since whitening treatments don’t work on porcelain, it’s best to get your teeth professionally whitened first. Your dental care provider will match the color of your new crowns or veneers to your newly-whitened teeth before installing them.
Considering Teeth Whitening in Clyde, NC?
The team of specialists at Cataloochee Dental Group is focused on giving you the highest quality dental care in a comfortable and inviting environment. Contact our office to make an appointment today.