Whenever you eat or drink anything, some of the residues stick to and stain your teeth. Although the stains are not noticeable at first, your teeth will eventually start looking dingy. While you can buy whitening products from pharmacies and department stores, they don’t brighten your teeth as well as professional chairside whitening by Dr. Eric Ahrens at Platte Valley Dental Clinic.
Our dentist near you will monitor your whitening treatment to ensure your teeth are not too sensitive to use the whitener or control its brightness. In about an hour, our whitening system will clean and brighten your teeth eight to 10 shades.
With over-the-counter (OTC) whiteners like toothpaste, gels, or whitening kits, it can take a few weeks of use before you will see any noticeable whitening. Also, OTC whiteners can damage teeth because they often contain abrasives that can etch teeth, causing crevices where decay-causing bacteria can hide and grow.
Both chairside whitening and commercial products use hydrogen peroxide to bleach teeth to get them whiter and brighter. However, the differences in the results are due to the concentration of this chemical. With OTC products, the concentration levels of H2O2 are from three to 20 percent. With professional teeth whitening near you, the level of hydrogen peroxide can be as high as 43 percent.
The primary cause of teeth stains is the foods and drinks people consume. Dark drinks like coffee and tea contain tannins, while acidic drinks can lightly etch your teeth and cause food and drink residue to attached themselves into tiny crevices in tooth enamel. As the residue builds up, your teeth will become dull and slightly dingy.
Having your teeth whitened by our dentist in Kearney, NE can last from 12 to 24 months, while commercial whiteners may only last a few weeks to six months. To get more from teeth whitening, you can prevent your teeth from staining quickly by brushing after every meal. If you’re out at a restaurant, take a moment to rinse your mouth with water to reduce staining.
If your smile looks dingy and dull, contact Platte Valley Dental Clinic to make an appointment with Dr. Eric Ahrens for teeth whitening for a bright white smile.