If you want a brighter smile — and who doesn’t? — whitening is one of the quickest, most affordable, and most effective ways to accomplish that. At West Brazos Dental Center, in West Columbia, Texas, the team of family dentists offers supervised whitening options, using professional grade bleaching agents, to provide the best results available. 

Teeth Whitening Q & A

Does teeth whitening work?

Teeth whitening can have dramatic results if your teeth are discolored but otherwise healthy. Whitening can make teeth several shades brighter if they’ve become discolored from:

Eating acidic foods

Drinking beverages including tea, coffee, and red wine

Genetics

Smoking

Whitening agents are designed to brighten natural enamel. That means they don’t have any effect on fillings, crowns, veneers, and other restorations, and the results look best if you have all of your natural teeth. However, it’s possible to replace your restorations to match your new, brighter smile.

If your teeth are damaged or infected, whitening isn’t a substitute for getting more involved in dental work. It may not be enough if you have more serious cosmetic issues. Your dentist determines if whitening is right for you or if you’d benefit from another restorative procedure.

Why is it worth going to a dentist for teeth whitening?

There are many teeth whitening products you can buy at the pharmacy, from kinds of toothpaste that claim to have whitening benefits to at-home whitening kits. Though some people benefit from commercially available whitening products, there are several advantages to getting a whitening kit from your dentist at West Brazos Dental Center.

Over-the-counter whitening products are one-size-fits-all. They’re designed to provide some results for as many people as possible, instead of the best possible results for you.

Your dentist has access to stronger, more effective bleaching solutions than what you can buy yourself. You also receive customized whitening trays, created using impressions of your teeth. That ensures the trays fit your mouth comfortably and the whitening agent fully covers your teeth.

Your dentist is happy to answer any questions you have about teeth whitening. Unlike home whitening, there’s no guessing what you have to do to get the whitening results you want.

How long will my teeth stay bright?

The results of teeth whitening can last for up to three years, as long as you continue taking good care of your teeth. You may also want to get touch-up treatments during that time.

Teeth whitening is no substitute for good oral hygiene. Your teeth may look healthier afterward, but to keep them that way, it’s as important as ever to brush at least twice a day, floss at least once a day, and get regular cleanings and checkups at West Brazos Dental Center. For your teeth to look and feel their best, be sure to avoid foods and beverages that stain your teeth and quit using tobacco if you haven’t already.

To learn more about teeth whitening, call West Brazos Dental Center.