Want that beautiful white smile you’ve been dreaming of?

A brighter, whiter smile can give anyone a boost of confidence, but over the years, your teeth begin to lose their bright shine for a variety of reasons, like food stains. If you are considering whitening your teeth, there are many options for you that include doing it at home, or getting them whitened in Dr. May’s office.

Consult with a dentist

First thing’s first – if you are considering whitening your teeth, you need to consult with your dentist. You and Dr. May can come up with a course of action that will work best for your teeth and smile, and come up with a plan to get your teeth bright white once again.

What is involved with teeth whitening?

When you choose to whiten your teeth, either at home or at the dentist’s office, most of the time, the kits will contain either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Both solutions work to break down stains on your teeth to make them whiter.

The difference is that hydrogen peroxide works faster, usually in about 30 to 60 minutes, while carbamide peroxide takes longer to work, and results could take up to six hours to see the full effects. Both solutions are effective and do the same thing with the same result–whiter teeth!

At-Home Options

There are two options available for you if you want to whiten your teeth at home: you can use an over-the-counter option that you can get at your local drug store or grocery store, or you can use a professional kit provided by your dentist to use at home.

Before you use an at-home kit, read the instructions all the way through! Next, you’ll want to brush and floss your teeth very well so the whitening solution has a smooth and clean surface to adhere to.

An at-home teeth whitening kit is often a strip that you adhere to your teeth. Make sure the strip fits closely to the teeth and doesn’t touch the gums, as the teeth whitening solution can cause gum irritation.

If you and your dentist have decided on a professional at home teeth whitening option, you’ll be fitted with custom trays for you to use. Dr. May uses a digital scanner to make a digital impression of your teeth and bite, so you don’t have to worry about those goopy impressions of yesteryears. Then a custom-created plastic whitening tray is prepared to perfectly fit your teeth, and will hold the whitening solution.

After your custom-made trays are ready, your dentist will show you how to use the teeth whitening product and how much solution will go into the trays.

Since the tray will be custom fitted to your mouth, a professional at home teeth whitening kit can give you better results versus something you purchase over-the-counter, and there is less of a chance of the whitening solution getting on your gums, which can cause irritation.

At home, you’ll follow the instructions your dentist gave you and you’ll often wear the trays for about an hour a day for two weeks. At a follow-up appointment with your dentist, you’ll be able to see the progress you’ve made, and your dentist will be able to decide if you need further treatment or not.

Dental Office Procedure

Dr. May also offers a professional teeth whitening procedure that takes place in his office. With this option, your teeth will be polished and thoroughly cleaned. Next, the teeth whitening solution will be applied to the front of your teeth, and gauze will often be placed in your mouth to ensure the solution doesn’t get on your gums.

After that, a special light will be brought over your mouth, which helps to ensure the solution used on your teeth. This treatment often takes 30 to 60 minutes, and you’ll be able to see results soon after!

Results may vary.

No matter which option you use to whiten your teeth, you should understand that results will vary from person to person, treatment to treatment. If your teeth have been stained because of many years of coffee drinking, for instance, it will take longer to achieve a brighter white smile. Many times, the results are subtle, and your teeth will brighten by a shade or two, which is why often, multiple treatments are needed, no matter which option you choose.

Come see Dr. May!

If you are interested in having a whiter smile and want to discuss your teeth whitening options, book an appointment with Dr. May and the team at Metro East Dental Care. At our practice, you can discuss your options for whitening at home or at the office and get all of your questions answered.