Kate's Fear of TMJ

Why A Professional Whitening May Be Your Best Option

If you have stains on your teeth, then you may be thinking about whitening. If you have seen the vast array of products at your local pharmacy, then you may think about using the strips of gels that you can purchase instead of seeking out assistance from your local cosmetic dentist. For some people, these products work fine. For others, they do not. It may be better to seek out care from a dental professional to start. Keep reading to find out why this is wise.

They Can Remove Some Of The Deep Stains

There are two different types of dental stains that can affect your teeth. They are called extrinsic and intrinsic stains. Extrinsic stains are the ones you see when the tooth enamel is discolored. They occur on the outside or exterior of your teeth. Intrinsic stains are internal and affect the dentin. Intrinsic stains are not the result of tobacco smoke, coffee, wine, or tea. They are caused by things like antibiotic use as a child, the consumption of too much fluoride, and dental trauma. Also, dentin starts to look more yellow as you age, so this may be a factor when it comes to intrinsic staining.

If you have intrinsic tooth stains, then over the counter whitening products will not affect the discoloration. These products only remove a portion of the extrinsic stains. Your teeth may still appear brown or yellow after treatment. If you schedule a whitening treatment with your dentist though, then some of the internal tooth stain can be released. This occurs with a bleaching treatment. Dental bleaches are different than the whitening material that you use at home. They can actually whiten the teeth and remove some deep staining instead of simply forcing debris out of the cracks in the enamel.

They Reduce Gum Irritation

If you have ever had gingivitis or if you are currently fighting gum disease, then at home whitening treatments are a bad choice. The agents used in the products irritate the gums and there is simply no way to protect the soft tissues during a whitening. Sore, inflamed, and infected gums will likely be the result. 

If you want to reduce your infection risks, then a professional whitening is best. Your dentist will place a special gel over your gums to keep the soft tissues protected from damage. Also, your mouth will be kept open with the cheek spreaders and other dental tools. This keeps saliva from washing away the gel once the whitening solution is applied. 

Also, your dentist can adjust the whitening solution so it is not as strong. This can help to reduce soreness if the whitening solution does come into contact with any of the soft tissues. 

For more information about teeth whitening, contact a dental clinic near you or visit websites like http://www.pikedentistry.com.


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