How Do Dentists Whiten Your Stained Teeth?

If you are in the least interested in whitening your smile, then you know at least more than three approaches that can help you do it. It does not mean that all the approaches are effective for realizing your dental expectations, but you have many options to choose from, should you decide to whiten your smile. The question, therefore, becomes, why would you need a dentist for teeth whitening?

What Is Teeth Whitening?

It is any procedure done to change the color of teeth, making them brighter and whiter than they initially are. Teeth whitening services can either be offered in a dental facility or at home, based on individual preferences.

Various approaches to whitening teeth have been used today, including the following:

1. Baking soda and peroxide rinses – creating a solution of diluted baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, either together or separately, to create a mix that can bleach teeth.
2. Oil pulling – rinsing teeth with essential oils like coconut oil.
3. Over-the-counter whitening strips and gels – are easily accessible from local vendors, providing different brands of whitening products that can improve the color of your teeth.
4. Professional teeth whitening – comprises both external and internal bleaching of teeth done by a dentist, usually in a dental clinic.

​An Overview of the Professional Approach to Teeth Whitening

A dentist will employ a different technique for whitening your teeth than you do with alternative whitening remedies. For one, you need a dental exam before any whitening process begins. The dental exam will allow the dentist to evaluate your oral health, finding any dental issues, if any. The presence of tooth cavities, for instance, will require treatment first before you can whiten your teeth. The examination stage will also help determine whether you need to be numbed before the treatment or not. Typically, teeth whitening procedures do not require local anesthesia.

Afterward, dental cleaning is necessary. Some patients need a complete teeth cleaning experience to rid their mouth of plaque and tartar, which are primarily the cause of their dental discoloration. Other patients, however, will only need a few minutes of teeth brushing and rinsing to remove surface residues that may prevent effective teeth whitening.

The bleaching process starts when the dentist protects your gums. Usually, a special gel is applied to the gums, protecting them from the harshness of the bleaching agents. Afterward, the dentist applies the whitening product. It is usually in the form of a gel or paste. Once applied, it begins to break drown stains. The dentist will use a small hand-held laser tool to activate and speed up the bleaching process.

After a couple of seconds, the dentist wipes off the bleaching material from your teeth and observes the progress. He/she will then repeat the bleaching steps about three or four times over until the stains on your teeth are faded enough. The entire process may take a little over 45 minutes to achieve bright white teeth.

Why Must You Involve a Dentist for Teeth Whitening?

1. To prioritize safety – dentists know best when it comes to your dental health. Although whitening your teeth is a personal journey, you need to be conscious of the safety of your oral cavity. A dentist will ensure that both your gums and teeth are safe before and after a bleaching session.
2. To benefit from other dental services – although you are going in to whiten your teeth, you will benefit from a dental exam and cleaning for your teeth. Better yet, you may even get fluoride treatment after whitening your teeth, which boosts their strength.
3. For effective results – the promise of professional teeth whitening is immediate results. You do not have to keep attempting to bleach your teeth continuously for a week before you realize an improvement in their color. Your dentist ensures that by the time you are leaving the dental clinic, you have noticed the tremendous upgrade in the whiteness and brightness of your teeth.
4. To remove stubborn stains – professional teeth whitening has a better understanding of how to target intrinsic stains, making it a better approach for removing stubborn stains than other teeth whitening alternatives.
5. Incredible results – after visiting your dentist for teeth whitening, you won’t just have immediate results, but incredible ones too. Patients have had their smiles whitened up to four times brighter and whiter than the initial color of their teeth.