Lakeland Family Dentistry can help you remove tooth discoloration and achieve your dreams’ beautiful, white smile. Whether your tooth discoloration is from food or medication, Lakeland Family Dentistry can help you whiten your smile.
How Do Teeth Become Discolored?
There are several ways that your teeth can become discolored. One standard method is from drinks such as tea, cola, and coffee. To decrease discoloration while drinking these, use a straw. Additionally, patients should drink water while sipping these beverages to rinse their teeth. Smoking is also a common culprit of tooth discoloration. If you smoke, you should consider quitting. Another way patients can experience tooth discoloration is through medications. Certain medications such as blood pressure medications and antihistamines like Benadryl can make your mouth dry. If you do not drink plenty of water while taking these medicines, your dry mouth can collect bacteria, leading to possible tooth discoloration.
What Type of Teeth Whitening is Available in Flowood, MS?
At our dental office, we offer both at-home and in-office teeth whitening. Many patients prefer to whiten their teeth in the comfort of their home, while others want to see quick, dramatic results in the office. Both are great teeth whitening options.
Your dentist will first make you a custom teeth whitening tray for at-home teeth whitening. Although the tray looks like a retainer, it is not. A custom teeth whitening tray has small pockets in front of each tooth where the whitening solution sits. Your dentist will take an impression of your teeth to make the tray. The impression is sent to a lab where they will design the tray. Once you receive the tray, your dentist will instruct you on how long to wear the tray with the whitening solution each day. The length of time wearing the tray each day can range from 30 minutes a day to all night. The amount of time depends on your treatment goals, tooth sensitivity, and the strength of the whitening solution.
The other type of teeth whitening procedure we offer is in-office teeth whitening. For this procedure, your dentist will place a whitening solution on your teeth and ask you to sit wearing it for 15 to 30 minutes. After the set amount of time, they will have you rinse your mouth. Depending on the shade you want, your dentist may repeat this procedure a few times during the dental appointment. Your dentist may use a whitening light on your teeth to speed up the whitening process. Many patients love this whitening procedure because it offers quick, dramatic results.
Can I Use Over-the-Counter Whitening Products?
Generally, the dentists at Lakeland Family Dentistry do not recommend over-the-counter teeth whitening products. The exception is whitening toothpaste and mouthwash. Over-the-counter whitening products are not as accurate as professional whitening and can lead to tooth sensitivity if not used correctly. Teeth whitening at Lakeland Family Dentistry is done under the supervision of a dentist. Before your whitening procedure, your dentist will examine the health of your teeth and gums. If you have dental decay or other oral health concerns, they may recommend addressing those issues before whitening. The whitening solution could cause tooth sensitivity if these are not addressed first.
How Can I Keep My Teeth White?
At Lakeland Family Dentistry, we recommend a good oral health routine to help you maintain white teeth. A good oral health routine includes brushing, flossing, and mouthwash twice daily. Patients who want white teeth should use whitening toothpaste and mouthwash. Often these products are low-abrasive and have fluoride in them. A low-abrasive toothpaste will etch off the discoloration on the outside of the tooth. Further, the fluoride in the toothpaste and mouthwash will chemically strengthen the outside of the tooth and whiten it.
Many patients in Flowood, MS, have benefited from teeth whitening at Lakeland Family Dentistry. Call our office to learn more about teeth whitening or schedule an appointment.