If your teeth are discolored, tooth whitening may help. "Whitening" is any process that can make teeth look whiter. It may be safely done at home or in a Apex dental office. It is best to talk to Apex dentist before whitening your teeth.

 

Options for whitening your teeth. Tooth-whitening options range from gentle surface whiteners to stronger ones that can also remove deeper stains. There are three main types of tooth whitening products:

• Whitening toothpastes

• Home-use whiteners

• In-office whitening

 

Whitening toothpastes help remove stains on the surface of your teeth. They are the gentlest of the whitening options. They work using polishing action rather than chemicals and don't have many side effects. However, they do not get teeth as white as chemical products. Whitening toothpastes can lighten teeth a little bit at a time, over days or weeks.

 

Several whitening toothpastes have earned the American Dental Association's Seal of Acceptance and have been shown to whiten teeth by removing surface stains.

 

Home-use whiteners come from Apex dentist or are sold over the counter. They may be applied to your teeth using trays, strips, as a rinse, or with a brush. They usually contain a chemical called peroxide (pur-OX-eyed), which gets below the surface to lighten tooth enamel. Home-use whiteners are meant to be used over days or weeks.

 

Apex dentist may make custom whitening trays for your upper and lower teeth. You put the whitening gel in the trays and wear them for short times during the day or overnight. Apex dentist will tell you how long to wear them. If you wear the trays for too long, the peroxide in the gel can irritate your teeth.

 

In-office whitening is done in the Apex dental office. In-office whiteners are much stronger than whitening toothpastes and home-use whiteners because they have more peroxide. They can change the color of your teeth faster than the other methods.

 

In-office whitening is usually done in about one hour. To help protect your mouth from the peroxide, your gum tissues will be covered with either a thin sheet of rubber or a protective gel. A light or laser may be used in addition to the peroxide.

 

Side effects

 

Whitening treatment may cause your teeth to be sensitive to very hot or cold temperatures. Whitening may also irritate your gums for a short time. If the side effects do not go away after a few days, see Apex dentist.

 

To avoid harming your teeth and gums, always follow the product directions and all instructions from Apex dentist. If your teeth become very sensitive or if you get sores in your mouth, stop using the products and call Apex dentist.

 

There is such a thing as too much whitening! Do not use whitening products for longer than listed in the product directions or by Apex dentist. Too much whitening can make your teeth and gums hurt badly. It can even harm your tooth enamel.