5 Reasons to Have Your Teeth Professionally Whitened

If you notice your smile appears dimmer than it was before, there’s a good chance you have some tooth discoloration. Your teeth may become yellowish or darker for many reasons, such as:

• Age
• Tobacco use
• Certain foods and drinks
• Bad dental hygiene
• Some medications
• Environmental factors
• Injury

And if regular brushing and flossing isn’t enough, consider tooth whitening to brighten your teeth. Statistics show that 37 million Americans used tooth whiteners in 2020 alone, and the amount of use is on the rise. 

If you’re looking for whiter teeth, you can opt for home kits, but there are many good reasons to have it done professionally. To understand the benefits of professional tooth whitening, let’s look at how the whole process works, some reasons to turn to pros, and what you can expect.

If you live in the Los Gatos, California, area and want a brighter smile, look no farther than Los Gatos Family Dental. Dr. Sara Ghasemi and our experienced staff offer knowledgeable, friendly service using cutting-edge equipment and a variety of cosmetic and medical dental options.

How tooth whitening works

For people with healthy, unrestored teeth, tooth whitening is the term for a series of products and systems to lighten the color of your teeth using gels, rinses, strips, trays, and other methods.

Whether it’s a home kit or a professional treatment, most methods include some percentage of carbamide peroxide, a water-soluble, white crystalline compound with hydrogen peroxide. 

The results depend on the whitening ingredient, but you can your teeth anywhere from one to eight shades lighter.

Reasons to choose professional teeth whitening

We could give you many reasons why you could benefit from a professional whitening, but let’s start with these five:

Experience 

When considering tooth whitening, a professional can assess the health of your teeth in case the treatment presents a risk of doing more harm than good. At Los Gatos Family Dental, we also have a better understanding of how much work your teeth need and how much whitener to use.

Safety

Improper use of home kits can damage your teeth. One such problem is teeth sensitivity due to extended exposure to carbamide peroxide. Avoid problems by turning to the professionals. We have extensive experience whitening teeth and put your safety first.

Custom treatment

A professional treatment means having tools and techniques customized for your teeth, including trays to fit them and the proper amount of whitener for your needs.

Materials

An in-office whitening offers a heavier concentration of ingredients like carbamide peroxide than an over-the-counter kit, so you get better results quickly — and safely.

Time

Because of the advantages of a higher concentration of materials and our professional experience, we can get quality results in a short period of time. You can expect your treatment to last up to 90 minutes.

Maintain your results

To take care of your newly whitened teeth, avoid smoking or any tobacco products, and food and drinks that may discolor your teeth such as:

• Coffee and tea
• Tomato juice
• Tomato sauce
• Yellow mustard
• Beets
• Candy
• Red wine

Avoid these products for at least 24 hours directly after treatment, though you should stop the use of tobacco products as soon as possible.

If you’re considering teeth whitening, contact us at Los Gatos Family Dental today to get information and treatment.