Professional Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening helps bring back your teeth’s natural brightness by removing these stains. The dentist applies a special gel with hydrogen peroxide to your teeth. A special light helps this gel work better to break down stains and make your teeth whiter. This treatment is safe and pain-free. First, your dentist will check your teeth to see what kind of stains you have.
Whitening cannot fix:
- Stains from cavities, broken teeth, or old fillings.
- Color changes caused by medicines or when a tooth is dead. In these cases, other treatments like veneers or crowns might be needed.
- White spots caused by problems in the tooth enamel.
- Stains from smoking, coffee, or tartar — these will be cleaned before whitening.
Before whitening, your dentist will clean your teeth to remove tartar and polish them, getting rid of dark stains from coffee or smoking. Any cavities or old fillings will also be treated.
Whitening should only be done if your teeth and gums are healthy. Good daily brushing and flossing are important for the best results.
The whitening session takes about 30 to 60 minutes. The gel is applied a few times during the treatment, and the special light helps speed up the process.
Results can be different for everyone and how long the whitening lasts depends on you. If you keep your teeth clean and use whitening toothpaste, the results can last up to a year — especially if you don’t smoke.
For 48 hours after whitening:
- Avoid drinks like wine, tea, and coffee that can stain your teeth.
- Don’t smoke.
- Eat white or light-colored foods.
Some people may feel their teeth are more sensitive to hot and cold after whitening. If your teeth are already sensitive, talk to your dentist before deciding on this treatment.