Professional Teeth Whitening in Mystic, CT
Whitening procedures have effectively restored the smile of people with
stained, dull, or discolored teeth.
The darker tissue of your teeth, the dentin, can become exposed as the outer
layer of enamel is worn away by the effects of aging or things like caffeine
and tobacco.
Food particles are naturally attracted to a tooth's enamel by a certain
protein. Products like coffee and tea, berries, and soy sauce are notorious
for staining teeth. Over time, teeth actually become more absorbent and
vulnerable to staining from food and other substances.
One type of stain—caused by traumatic injuries, medications and
fluorosis—actually begins inside the tooth; brushing and flossing
don’t help. Another type of stain that can be more easily attacked by
brushing, flossing and rinsing is caused by external factors such as foods.
More and more people today are choosing tooth-whitening procedures to
reverse the effects of aging and abuse from food and tobacco stains.
Some commercially available "whitening toothpaste" can somewhat effectively
remove stains and make teeth a few shades brighter. However, many of these
products have abrasive substances that can actually wear away your tooth's
enamel.
Whitening agents actually change the color of your teeth, but only are
effective on certain types of stains. For example, bleaching agents have a
difficult time removing brownish or grayish stains. These products are not
as effective on pitted or badly discolored teeth or restorations such as
crowns, bridges, bonding and tooth-colored fillings (porcelain veneers or
dental bonding may be more appropriate in this case).
Professional whitening performed by our office is considered to be the most
effective and safest method; done properly, tooth whitening can last as long
as five years. Over-the-counter whitening systems are somewhat effective as
long as they are monitored and directions followed closely.
Are you interested in brightening your smile with teeth whitening?
Call James P. Watts, DMD's dental office in Mystic, CT
at
(860) 536-6446
to schedule an appointment today!