For how comparatively small they are, the state of our teeth can have a massive impact on how confident we feel. As a result, many people, at some point in their lives, start to look for ways to improve the aesthetic of their smiles through techniques such as teeth whitening.
While teeth whitening is an exciting journey to embark on, it’s not one that you should necessarily rush into. There are a number of whitening options to choose from, and it’s important that you’re able to identify a solution that will be both effective and suitable from an oral health perspective.
Book a dental consultation
Before you even start to look at treatments, it’s important to have a consultation with a dentist. Some teeth whitening processes can be damaging to your dental hygiene, weakening enamel or harming your gums.
A dentist at a clinic such as ABC Dental will be able to evaluate your current oral health, and give you an assessment. This will be based on both an aesthetic and health-informed perspective.
Among other things, the dentist will look for existing work that’s been done, such as veneers and crowns, that may not change colour when your natural teeth are bleached. They will also assess whether you have cavities or gum disease, which could be negatively impacted by certain teeth whitening processes.
Professional cleaning
Before any other treatment is done, including the application of whitening agents, you will likely need to schedule a professional dental cleaning appointment.
Not only is professional cleaning important from a dental hygiene perspective, but it’s also a necessary precursor to many whitening processes. Essentially, you need to make sure that any whitening agents that are applied to your teeth are able to actually get to the enamel; to ensure this is the case, you need to get rid of any plaque or tartar first.
Choose a whitening treatment
Next, you can choose a whitening treatment.
In many cases, the most effective option is to use a professional at-home kit. Your dentist will make a custom-fitted tray that’s based on an impression of your teeth, and you’ll be able to take this tray home and wear it with a professional teeth whitening gel for a number of weeks.
In others, the dentist will apply a gel to your teeth themselves, and then use a laser to accelerate the whitening process. This can result in a big difference in the shade of your teeth, in as little as 60-90 minutes.
Take care of your teeth
After the treatment, you may find that your teeth are slightly more sensitive than usual. During the first 48 hours, it’s important to avoid staining substances like red wine, tea or coffee, as your enamel may be more susceptible to stains during this limited time frame.
Choosing to take control of how your teeth look is exciting, and teeth whitening is a really achievable way to go about doing so. Make sure that you work together with a qualified dentist, to identify a treatment that will be both healthy and effective.
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