Local Dental Blogs - Philadelphia, PA

Teeth Whitening: The Path to Brighter, Whiter Teeth

Teeth Whitening in Philadelphia

Everyone wants a brighter smile. Yet despite your best efforts to brush, floss, rinse, and see your dentist regularly, that glint may fade from your teeth.

Fortunately, dentists like Absolute Smile offer professional teeth whitening to restore your smile’s shiny white appearance.

What is Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening is exactly that —  a procedure performed to make your teeth a brighter white.

Teeth fade through age, trauma, medications, stains (usually from coffee, tea, or wine) tobacco use, and medications.

During a tooth whitening procedure, your dentist uses bleaching chemicals (containing either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide as the active ingredient) to break up that stain and bring some shine back to your pearly whites.

The procedure is simple. The dentist will first put a rubber shield on your gums or apply a gel to them. This protects them from the bleaching agent.

Then, in most cases, the dentist applies the bleach using a special mouthguard-shaped tray.

The active ingredient then slowly breaks down, allowing oxygen to get into the teeth enamel. This results in the teeth color lightening up.

Teeth Whitening in Philadelphia

Who Should Get Teeth Whitening?

If you have any event coming up where you want to look your best — especially if cameras will be present — then teeth whitening might be for you. Some events include

  • Weddings
  • Professional photos (school, work, etc.)
  • Family reunions
  • Graduations

And many more.

In truth, anyone with some discoloration on their teeth is a good candidate. But if one of the above descriptions sounds like you, then you could really benefit.

What About Whitening Strips, Toothpastes, and Rinses at the Store?

Either of these solutions can work, but they might not be optimal.

First, whitening toothpaste and rinses.

These products won’t do too much to whiten your teeth. Of course, they’ll work since they’re dental products — but basically any kind of toothpaste and rinse will produce similar results.

Now, whitening strips.

These can work fairly well if you pick the right brand, but only for your front few teeth. If you want your rear teeth whitened, these might not work for you.

Additionally, many brands don’t have strong enough chemistry to bleach your teeth properly for long enough.

Alternatively, they may also be too strong and potentially dangerous if ingested.

Visiting your dentist for teeth whitening will yield much better results. Dentists have tons of experience performing these procedures, and their work is much more controlled. Not to mention that it’s safer to have a dental professional do this.

Absolute Smile is among the best Philadelphia dentists for tooth whitening procedures. We offer the most advanced procedures and care for cleaning up your teeth and making them shine. Schedule your consultation with us at our Philadelphia office today!

How Cosmetic Dentistry Can Change Your Life

Are you unsure if cosmetic dentistry is right for you? Not sure if it is worth it? Check out this FREE article that will help you understand!

How Cosmetic Dentistry Can Change Your Life