TEETH WHITENING IN WINCHESTER, VA

Your teeth perform many important jobs. One of these jobs is helping to provide you with a beautiful, confident smile. When your teeth are dull and discolored, the appearance, and impact, of your smile is diminished. You may also become self-conscious and try to hide your smile from those around you. At Shenandoah Family Dentistry – Winchester, we can restore your luminous smile with teeth whitening.
Causes Of Dull, Discolored Teeth
The enamel of your teeth is naturally white in color. However, there are many factors that can contribute to dulling and discoloring it.

  • Foods and beverages. Certain types of things you consume, such as coffee, tea, red wine, and curries all have high concentrations of dark pigments that can stick to the surfaces of your teeth.
  • Tobacco products. These products contain numerous harmful chemicals. The two responsible for staining are tar and nicotine.
  • Certain types of medications.

 

WHAT IS TEETH WHITENING?

Teeth whitening is a procedure that is designed to eliminate stains from your teeth, restoring the bright white color to your enamel. There are two ways in which your teeth can be professionally whitened, in our office with chairside whitening or at home with take-home trays.

WHITENING IN AN HOUR IN OUR OFFICE

Chairside whitening is an in-office procedure that takes only about an hour of your time and only one visit. Before we begin your whitening treatment, your teeth are first cleaned. Next, a lip retractor is placed in your mouth to keep it open and your lips away from your teeth. The whitening gel is applied to your teeth, and a specialized light is shone over your mouth. The active ingredient in the whitening gel breaks down, forming tiny oxygen bubbles that enter into your enamel and dentin, sticking to stains and eliminating them. The light acts as an enhancer. Chairside whitening can whiten your teeth several shades with just one treatment, and results are noticeable right away.

WHITENING AT HOME

If you prefer to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home, we can provide you with take-home trays. We custom create trays specifically for your mouth. You are provided with the trays, the whitening gel, and the instructions for use. Trays are designed to hold the gel against your teeth twice a day for several hours or overnight while you are sleeping. Treatment can last one to two weeks depends on the condition of your teeth and your goals. Results typically begin to show in just a few days.

WHY NOT JUST USE THE OVER THE COUNTER WHITENERS?

You may have seen a plethora of whitening products available over the counter for reasonable prices. These products all claim amazing results in a short period. However, these products contain low levels of bleaching agents. It can take numerous treatments before you see even minor results. If you only have minor surface stains, these products may be helpful, but if you are looking for more drastic results, professional whitening is a much more effective option.

IS WHITENING PERMANENT?

While whitening provides amazing results, it is not a permanent solution. The same factors that caused your discoloration in the first place can cause new discoloration. Taking care to avoid new stains can help you to maintain your results longer. Tips for maintaining your new smile include:

• Limiting staining foods and beverages.
• Drinking plenty of water.
• Drinking dark beverages through a straw.
• Brushing and flossing daily.
• Having periodic touchups.

If you are interested in learning more about teeth whitening, call Shenandoah Family Dentistry – Winchester today at 540-888-8902 to schedule your consultation.

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