Teeth discolor for many other reasons as well. Firstly, teeth lose their brilliance with age, and everyone experiences some loss of whiteness as they get older. Teeth also stain from consuming certain foods or dark beverages like coffee and tea. Other factors like tooth decay and smoking can also cause discoloration. Fortunately, teeth whitening can undo some of that discoloration, and Better Way Dental provides ways for you to enhance your smile quickly and safely.
Hydrogen Peroxide, Teeth Whitening, And Your Dentist’s Oversight
To understand why hydrogen peroxide treatments are best used under a dentist’s supervision, it is helpful to know how they work. Although there are dental products and toothpastes which claim to “scrub away surface stains” from the enamel, tooth discoloration is often a result of lower oxygenation levels of the tissues within the tooth, rendering these products ineffective. Teeth naturally lose oxygen over time, and hydrogen peroxide has a “bleaching effect” in that it produces an acid with strong oxidizing properties that react with the other poorly oxygenated molecules inside the tooth, causing them regain significant amounts of oxygen in a short time and restore the tooth’s pearly appearance.
Whitening treatments of any kind are best supervised by a dentist, regardless of advertisements from companies with different dental products. Overusing abrasive over-the-counter whitening toothpastes and scrubs can seriously damage the enamel on your teeth, increasing your likelihood of tooth infections down the road, and can cause gum inflammation and tooth sensitivity.
Hydrogen peroxide also needs to be used carefully: it often varies in dilution levels, and wearing too strong a solution for too long can damage your teeth and cause tooth sensitivity or pain. When it comes to whitening, it’s best to let your dentist help you do it safely. That’s why Better Way Dental offers different whitening plans so you can enjoy a whiter smile without extra risk.
In-Office Professional Whitening
Better Way Dental offers a potent in-office whitening treatment, a quick-fix session especially popular before big events. We administer a highly concentrated peroxide gel for an appropriate period to significantly whiten teeth in less than an hour. Some people do experience tooth sensitivity afterward, but it is temporary.
Take-Home Whitening Kits
We also sell take-home whitening kits with lower concentrations of peroxide. These kits pair tailored instructions with multiple home sessions for a slow but sure whitening process that comes with continued use. As always, we still advise our clients to check in with us periodically and come to routine cleanings, and we can discourage the overuse of whitening products if tooth sensitivity becomes a problem.
The Better Way To A Bright Smile
Dr. Zhu is an experienced dentist who decided to bring comprehensive dental care to communities around Snoqualmie, WA: the result was Better Way Dental, a not-so-conventional dentist office that takes the patient-centered approach. We offer quality cosmetic treatments in addition to our wide-ranging dentistry services, and we are proud to be a one-stop office where patients can meet most of their dental needs in one place. Give us a call at (425) 292-9230 or reach out through our Contact Page to schedule a consultation. Come experience dentistry the Better Way.