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Teeth Whitening in Calgary

Stained or yellowed teeth can cause emotional discomfort and embarrassment. As we age, our teeth naturally discolour or darken, though using tobacco products and consuming certain foods (such as coffee and red wine) can also stain our teeth.

Though it may take a while for your teeth to become noticeably stained or darker, you can enjoy a brighter, whiter smile in as little as one in-office whitening treatment.

For more information about teeth whitening, and whether or not you might benefit, please speak to your dentist.

Teeth Whitening Methods

There are two main types of teeth whitening products: surface whiteners and bleaches.

Surface Whiteners

Surface whiteners, including whitening toothpastes and whitening gums, contain fine abrasive particles that are designed to scrub away surface stains. However, surface whiteners are only marginally effective, and can’t clean away stains below the enamel’s surface.

Bleaches

Most bleaching products contain peroxide and are able to alter the colour of your natural teeth. However, not all stains and discoloration respond effectively to bleaching, which is why you should speak to your dentist before beginning any tooth whitening regime.

Fillings, teeth with crowns, teeth that have undergone root canals, and extremely stained teeth may not respond to bleaching treatments.

Though there are currently a wide variety of at-home bleaching products available on the market, you should never bleach your teeth without first consulting your dentist.

The Advantages of Professional Teeth Whitening

Though at-home bleaching kits are available, there are many advantages to having your teeth whitened by a professional.

Fast & Noticable Results

At-home whitening kits often dictate that you use them several times per week for several weeks, and rarely offer dramatic results. Many kits are only designed to make your teeth a shade or two whiter, while in-office treatments can whiten your teeth by three to eight shades in as little as an hour.

This wide discrepancy in results occurs because in-office treatments are supervised by a dentist, which means stronger whitening solutions can be used safely. In-office treatments also often include the use of specialized lights, which enhance the bleaching process. Specialized bleaching lights and stronger solutions mean that in-office treatments can offer faster, and much more noticeable results in significantly less time than at-home kits.

Reduced Sensitivity

Bleaching solutions can be hard on the soft tissues in your mouth, including your lips, the interior of your cheeks, your gums, and the roots of your teeth, leading to irritation and discomfort. When you choose in-office whitening, your dentist is able to apply a special protective gel to your roots and gums, and use retractors to move your lips and cheeks away from your teeth.

This helps minimize contact between sensitive tissues and the bleaching solution, creating a more comfortable experience.

A Custom Made Solution

Your dentist can offer you a variety of whitening solutions based on your unique dental needs and uses whitening trays that have been custom moulded to your mouth. Custom trays, as opposed to the one-size-fits-all ones included in most at-home whitening kits, make it easier to reduce the amount of contact between your gums and the bleaching solution, further reducing irritation.

If you’re drawn to the flexibility and ease of at-home whitening, your dentist can provide you with custom whitening trays and a bleaching solution suitable for at-home use.

For more information about in-office teeth whitening solutions, and whether it might be a good choice for you, please speak to your dentist.