If your teeth have started to yellow, you may be wondering what caused it and how to correct it. For a brighter smile that you’ll feel confident in sharing, you’ve come to the right dentist for teeth whitening in Carlsbad, Cali.
Many of the foods and drinks you enjoy day after day may be discoloring your chompers. Besides what you eat and drink, your habits can also have a profound effect on the health of your smile. Risk foods and factors include:
Alcohol use can do far more damage than just darkening your teeth. It has been proven many times that alcohol abuse leads to degraded oral hygiene. Why? Beer is acidic, and so are many cocktails, which can break down enamel and discolor them. In addition, alcoholics tend to brush less, leading to alcohol linger on teeth and gums overnight.
Between in-home and professional whitening solutions, Americans spend north of a billion dollars annually. With a large chunk of that spent on over-the-counter (OTC) options, how much about them do you know?
The active ingredient in all whiteners and bleachers is hydrogen peroxide. This compound is the whitening agent that makes your pearly whites whiter. Without appropriate levels of it in the solution, you won’t notice any improvements.
On average, OTC whiteners contain just 3-20% of hydrogen peroxide. When compared to 43% concentration in professional options supplied by dentists, they aren’t worth it. Not only that, the FDA doesn’t regulate them, which should warn you enough to stay away. Without government regulation, you can’t trust the products.
Teeth whitening can be harmful to your health. Research has shown that over whitening may break down enamel as well as lead to tooth sensitivity. Furthermore, no whitener that you find in a store should be trusted without the consent of a certified dentist.
We strongly caution against home treatments since you may not know what can maximize efficiency. Furthermore, we know what makes a patient a strong candidate for whitening and what makes someone ineligible. Teeth whitening just isn’t as simple as some believe it to be.
One such step take is polishing with a pumice cloth. Doing so will ensure that your teeth are clean before the whitening solution is applied. Plaque that remains on your teeth can block the hydrogen peroxide and lead to blotchy-colored teeth. Whitening at home is commonly ineffective due to this.
The same is true for those with fillings, as the filler material can’t be brightened, which is why we don’t recommend this for all patients. Whitening over fillings may look even worse than when doing so over dirty teeth.
If you’re not satisfied with the vibrance of your smile, you should consider having your teeth whitened. Not only will this improve your first impressions, but you will feel more confident. To find out if you’re a candidate, contact us today!
When you visit Dr. Galli’s Encinitas dental practice, you can expect to be treated with respect, honesty and integrity. The objective of every visit is to establish an understanding of your particular oral health needs and goals, evaluate the potential treatments and select the most appropriate option.
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