The Impact of Lifestyle Choices on Tooth Discoloration
Now you can have significantly whiter teeth in a matter of minutes. Both comfortable & affordable, Zoom!® teeth whitening can make your teeth up to six to eight shades lighter in as little as 45 minutes. Zoom!® is safe, effective, fast & performed only by dental professionals.
While age & genetics do factor into dark or yellow teeth, our health choices make a significant impact. Generally speaking, your diet & oral hygiene are the most important determiners of your tooth colour. Beverages like tea, coffee & red wine tend to stain teeth the most. In addition to all of the other health problems it causes, tobacco is one of the biggest reasons for stained & yellow, brown or even grey teeth.
If you want your teeth to be “pearly whites” again, your best bet is to talk to your dentist about teeth whitening. If you have tried over-the-counter whitening kits & been disappointed, you will have better results with either in-office or take-home teeth whitening.
What Is Zoom!® Whitening?
The procedure begins at your dentist’s office with a whitening gel applied to your teeth. A special light is then directed at the gel to help activate the active bleaching ingredients. The whitening agent then is able to get into your dentin & whiten teeth while not changing the structure of the teeth. This is done three times for 15-minute intervals.
Afterward, a sensitivity cream is applied. The entire process takes less than an hour, though a recent teeth cleaning is strongly recommended, possibly directly before the procedure. After your Zoom!® treatment is done, your doctor will provide home care instructions as well as a whitening trays to ensure treatment lasts.
In-Office Zoom Teeth Whitening
While many teeth-whitening products are available—including Zoom!@—these at-home treatments do not have the same strength of active ingredients as those found in dental offices. This is to help protect patients from accidentally harming themselves with high concentrations of whitening products, which could lead to increased sensitivity & irritation. In the hands of a trained professional, these stronger options are safe & effective & their results can be more profound & immediate.
Finding a Shade Right for You
Not everyone is looking to whiten their teeth by a large amount. Depending on your goals, your treatment may involve a less concentrated whitening gel. Your dentist will be able to explain what a shade whiter vs. several shades whiter will look like. Many dentists have digital aids that can help show you what your teeth may look like after a treatment. There are also many examples to look through so you can determine just how much whiter you’d like your teeth to be. Different levels of whiteness do not affect treatment time, however, changes to diet & quitting smoking may be required to keep results to the longest extent possible after the treatment is complete. Call us today to see if teeth whitening is right for you.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
If you have tried over-the-counter whitening kits & been disappointed, you will have better results with one of our custom whitening trays. Our trays are made from impressions of your teeth, so they fit comfortably & securely. Since they are made to fit your mouth, they can also cover all the spots store-bought whitening kits tend to miss. Over-the-counter products also tend to leak whitening gel & rub against your gums, causing gum irritation or pain.
Am I A Good Candidate For Take-Home Teeth Whitening
Not everyone can benefit from our take-home teeth whitening. Some stains can’t be fixed with whitening gel. For example, discoloration from a root canal cannot be whitened because it starts inside of the tooth rather than on the outer enamel. Stains on crowns, veneers or bonded teeth will not respond to whitening treatments. New crowns & veneers are an alternative option for teeth that cannot be whitened with peroxide.
Procedure Overview
- We will use a special kind of putty to make a mold of your teeth.
- A dental lab will use these impressions to make your plastic trays, which are flexible & designed to slide over your teeth.
- When your tray is ready, the dentist will choose a peroxide whitening gel that best fits your needs. There are different strengths of whitening gel available. Stronger gels can yield quicker results but are more likely to cause side effects, including sensitive teeth & gum irritation.
- The rest of the process is in your hands. You will need to squirt the gel into the trays & wear them for around two to four hours every day. The dentist can advise you on the right amount of time for you.
- This treatment normally lasts for two to four weeks. In most cases, you should notice whiter teeth within the first two weeks. If you notice any side effects, including tooth sensitivity & irritated or painful gums, stop your treatment & call us right away.