Teeth Whitening

Why Do Teeth Turn Yellow or Dark?

Many factors contribute to teeth yellowing or darkening. Certain medications, foods and beverages, and your age can all play a role. The enamel on your teeth can get surface stains from drinks like red wine, tea, and coffee, and this can make your teeth appear yellow. Tobacco and smoking are also significant causes.

Is Whitening Your Teeth Safe?

Yes. Whitening your teeth is a safe process when you follow your dentist’s guidelines closely. Professional teeth whitening treatment at Rifkin Dental is safer, faster, and has better long-term results than over-the-counter products.  With over-the-counter products, you can’t rely on ingredient list accuracy, solutions are weaker, and there are rarely clear-cut guidelines for safe use.

The only discomfort you may experience with professional whitening is temporary tooth and gum sensitivity from the bleaching agents. Professional whitening at Rifkin Dental is designed to give you the convenience of at-home use combined with the power of professional quality whitening products.

How Does the Teeth Whitening Process Work?

A member of the Rifkin Dental team creates custom whitening trays from molds of your mouth. These custom trays ensure that the whitening gel reaches all of your teeth reliably to give you even whitening results. Your Rifkin Dental dentist may also prescribe medication to aid in the whitening process.

Every day for a week, you’ll place a special whitening gel in the trays and then wear them for about half an hour. Most patients find it convenient to plan their teeth whitening sessions for after dinner, just before bed. By the end of just a week, your teeth should be noticeably whiter.

How Can I Maintain My Whiter Smile?

After your professional whitening, maintaining good oral hygiene and avoiding stain-causing foods and beverages can minimize the frequency of future whitening services. Things to avoid include:

• Tobacco products including cigarettes and chewing tobacco
• Coffee and tea
• Dark-colored sodas
• Red wine
• Foods tinted by food coloring
• Bright or dark-colored drinks like grape juice or fruit punch

Most patients feel that making a few small changes in eating and drinking habits is well worth it for a gorgeous and long-lasting white smile.

Call or schedule a consultation online now to learn more about professional teeth whitening.