A Comprehensive Guide to Teeth Whitening: Everything You Need to Know
Jan 01, 2021
Teeth whitening in Calgary, is an extremely popular cosmetic dental procedure. Thousands of people are looking for ways to brighten their smiles and make them stand out beautifully.
You are not the only one who covets those brilliant white smiles that appear in magazines or billboards. Every 8 out of 10 people are searching for professional teeth whitening service near them.
At Northwest Prosthodontics, we encounter several patients daily who desire nothing more than to improve their smiles. Teeth whitening in Calgary, AB, is one of the quickest and easiest ways to transform your smile.
There is nothing that can revive a dull looking smile like teeth whitening can.
Why Do Teeth Get Stained In the First Place?
Teeth stains can occur due to a vast number of reasons. These factors may range from everyday lifestyle choices to biological factors. Whatever the cause is, our prosthodontist near you can customize an ideal teeth-whitening regimen to suit your need and reverse the effects of staining.
Here are some of the leading causes of tooth staining and discoloration:
- Foods and Drinks
There are certain kinds of beverages and foods that can cause staining. Drinks packed with tannins such as tea, coffee, colas, and wine can lead to tooth discoloration. Also, foods that have a lot of pigments, such as curries and berries, can stain teeth.
- Tobacco
This is a lifestyle choice that can cause tooth staining. Chewing or smoking tobacco has been shown to cause tooth discoloration and yellowing.
- Having Poor Oral Hygiene
It’s true that not brushing and flossing your teeth daily can lead to stains on your teeth.
- Prescription Drugs
Some prescription drugs like antihistamines, antibiotics, antipsychotic medications, and high blood pressure drugs can cause tooth discoloration.
- Aging
As we grow older, our enamel wears out, leading to the exposure of the dentin. Dentin is the yellow layer found beneath the enamel. This makes your teeth look yellow and darker than they should be.
- Dental Restorations
Amalgam restorative materials can result in blackish gray stains on teeth over time.
- Certain Diseases and Treatment Regimens
Certain diseases can affect the enamel and lead to the dentin layer’s exposure, which is yellowish. Apart from this, treatment regimens such as radiation and chemotherapy can also cause tooth discoloration.
Methods of Teeth Whitening
There are several teeth whitening options currently available. These options can be categorized into two major divisions, including either professional or home teeth whitening options. Let’s take a detailed look into these two teeth whitening options:
Home Teeth Whitening Options
Home teeth whitening mostly takes a DIY based approach. Several products can be purchased or even recommended by our prosthodontist in Calgary, AB, which can be used to brighten your pearly whites.
These products are available at your local department stores or pharmacies and come with detailed instructions. Here are some of the teeth whitening products available in Calgary:
- Whitening Strips
They are thin and translucent strips soaked in a bleaching agent. The strips come with detailed instructions on their use, and for them to be effective, you need to adhere to these instructions diligently.
However, the results may be inconsistent and may only be noticeable after repeat applications.
- Whitening Gels
These bleaching gels are applied directly onto the teeth using a small applicator brush. In this case, you also need to follow the set instructions to achieve the results and prevent side effects such as injuring your gums with the gel or bringing about tooth sensitivity.
- Whitening Toothpaste
Whitening toothpaste contains mild abrasives and a small amount of bleaching agent to facilitate stain removal. The drawback of this option is that you may not see any noticeable results immediately. It may take several weeks or months before you achieve your desired outcome.
- Tray-Based Whiteners
This option comes with a mouth guard kind of tray that you fill with the bleaching substance. You wear the mouth guard for a specified amount of time to achieve your desired result. However, this option comes in a one size fits all arrangement, which means that the tray may be ill-fitting and expose your gum to the bleaching agent.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening is also referred to as in-office teeth whitening near me. This is an excellent option because you will achieve faster results. You are bound to walk out of the office with a noticeably whiter smile.
A whitening procedure at our prosthodontist in Calgary, can take about an hour. The bleaching agent can be regulated and customized to produce the shade you desire.
Also, since your session is being handled by a professional, there are fewer chances of facing side effects such as injured gums or intense tooth sensitivity.
Contact us at Northwest Prosthodontics for a whiter, brighter smile.