What's the fastest and most affordable way to enhance your smile and take years off your appearance? If you answered professional teeth whitening—you're correct!
Brightening your smile can revitalize your appearance and make you look and feel more youthful. Better yet, some teeth-bleaching treatments can happen during just one visit to our Wilmington dental office, leaving you with immediate results!
Here's what you should know about your professional teeth whitening options.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
An in-office teeth bleaching procedure is the quickest way to achieve your whiter, brighter smile. During a 90-minute appointment, our team applies high-strength bleaching gel to your teeth. The gel is prescription strength and customized to your specific needs based on your level of tooth sensitivity and smile goals.
We're careful to ensure that your gums and soft tissues are surrounded by a protective barrier that keeps the whitening gel from escaping and causing irritation. Depending on your level of tooth staining or discoloration, our team may apply the gel multiple times.
We'll finish with a fluoride treatment to help diminish any tooth sensitivity caused by the teeth whitening procedure. Tooth sensitivity is a common side effect of bleaching teeth; however, the ingredients in the high-strength teeth whitening gel your team at Dr. Bruce Matthews, DDS, uses are designed to minimize tooth sensitivity.
After in-office teeth whitening, you'll leave our dental office with teeth six to ten shades lighter than before you started. In-office professional teeth whitening is ideal for patients who need quick results or have an upcoming significant life event, such as a wedding, vacation, or family reunion.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
Take-home teeth whitening is ideal for patients who don't require quick results and want to whiten their teeth according to their own schedule and from the comfort of their homes. Better yet, you'll have your whitening trays available anytime you want to brighten your smile in the future, maybe before you leave on a trip or for a big event. We sell additional tubes of teeth whitening gel you can use at home at our dental office in Wilmington for your convenience.
If you choose take-home teeth whitening to brighten your smile, we start by taking impressions of your teeth to create custom plastic whitening trays. Since the whitening trays fit snugly against your teeth, they don't allow the bleaching gel to escape and irritate your gums.
You'll simply apply the whitening gel to your trays whenever it's convenient for you and wear them for 30 minutes daily. Most patients achieve their desired results after wearing their trays for 10 to 14 days. You can decide when you're done based on your results.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Professional teeth whitening gels rely on ingredients like carbamide or hydrogen peroxide to weaken the chemical bonds of stains on teeth. When stains become smaller or less concentrated, they are less noticeable, and teeth appear whiter.
Teeth whitening isn't a permanent treatment, and you will need to update your results every few months. However, you can take steps at home to promote a brighter smile and prolong teeth whitening results.
Why Is Professional Teeth Whitening Better Than Over-the-Counter Products?
When you see so many teeth whitening options at the grocery store, you may wonder why you should whiten your teeth with your dentist. There are several reasons.
- Effectiveness — Custom whitening options with your dentist deliver better results. Your dentist also has access to more potent teeth-bleaching products that deliver results faster.
- Comfort — Store-bought products are not customized to your smile. They may be ill-fitting and uncomfortable to wear.
- Safety — Your dentist can advise you if you encounter any concerns during teeth whitening. With over-the-counter products, you're on your own.
At Dr. Bruce Matthews, DDS, we're happy to discuss your professional teeth whitening options so you can make the best choice for your smile.
Protecting Your Smile Investment
Once you've whitened your teeth, there are steps you can take to preserve your bright, beautiful smile. Here are some tips.
Avoid Tooth-Staining Foods
Did you know that certain foods and beverages contribute to tooth discoloration? Some of the main offenders are:
- Curries
- Soy sauce
- Tomato or marinara sauce
- Dark berries, like raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries
- Coffee or black tea
- Dark cola
- Red wine
Be sure to drink a lot of water if you're consuming any of these foods and drinks, and brush your teeth 30 minutes after your meal to protect your bright smile.
Avoid Tobacco Products
Smoking cigarettes or using other types of tobacco products can severely stain and discolor your teeth. Tobacco leaves yellow and brown stains on teeth that are hard to remove with regular teeth brushing.
It typically takes professional teeth whitening or covering your teeth with restorations to eliminate the staining that tobacco causes. Consider quitting if you are a tobacco user.
Keep Your Smile Clean and Healthy
A consistent home care routine of brushing twice daily and flossing once is the key to keeping your smile healthy and bright. Be sure you're using the right products, like an electric toothbrush,
and the best techniques to remove the most plaque and bacteria from your smile as possible.
Visiting your dentist every six months for professional teeth cleanings and checkups is critical for maintaining your dental and overall health. Your dentist can spot potential problems before they become more significant, and your hygienist can clean the excess plaque and bacteria that can result in tooth staining. Consistency in preventive care appointments helps protect your smile from problems like tooth decay, gum disease, and staining.
Contact Your Dentist in Wilmington for More Information about Professional Teeth Whitening
At Dr. Bruce Matthews, DDS, we understand that having a beautiful smile is just as important as having a healthy smile. We're here to help you achieve both!
Call (302) 475-9220 for more information about professional teeth whitening in Wilmington, DE, or to book an appointment with one of our dentists. You can also request an appointment with one of our dentists online.
Our team has helped hundreds of patients achieve their healthiest, happiest smiles, and we can help you, too!