Our Location:
Nashua Smile Makers
Nashua, NH 03060
Call For Financing OptionsFind answers and other helpful dental topics in our digital library.
Our Blog:
Archive:
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
- 2011
Tags
- pediatric dentistry (10)
- celebrity smiles (65)
- orthodontics (10)
- palatal expanders (2)
- braces (8)
- veneers (9)
- prepless veneers (1)
- nightguard (1)
- grinding teeth (1)
- dental emergency (2)
- dental injury (6)
- porcelain veneers (7)
- snoring (1)
- sleep apnea (1)
- oral health (15)
- Oral Hygiene (20)
- Dentist (1)
- Nashua (3)
- diabetes (1)
- sealants (3)
- herbal remedy (1)
- cosmetic dentistry (19)
- missing tooth (1)
- replacing teeth (1)
- dental implant (2)
- nutrition (2)
- bridge (1)
- tooth pain (4)
- root canal treatment (3)
- dental implants (18)
- osteoporosis (1)
- oral surgery (1)
- crown (1)
- fluoride (2)
- social media (1)
- gum disease (7)
- laser dentistry (1)
- mouthguards (3)
- dental injuries (1)
- sensitive teeth (1)
- Cosmetic Dentist (1)
- mouthrinse (1)
- root resorption (1)
- root canal (2)
- TMD (1)
- TMJ (1)
- dental anxiety (1)
- smile makeover (2)
- Sugar (1)
- pediatric care (1)
- TADs (1)
- wisdom teeth (5)
- gummy smile (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- dentures (3)
- chipped teeth (1)
- Flossing (2)
- orthodontic treatment (9)
- tooth grinding (1)
- frenectomy (1)
- crowns (4)
- oral cancer (2)
- tobacco (1)
- dental crowns (2)
- restorative dentistry (4)
- tooth decay (4)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- Family Dentist (2)
- smoking (1)
- seniors (1)
- abscessed tooth (1)
- mouthguard (1)
- periodontal (gum) disease (1)
- palatal expander (1)
- teeth whitening (3)
- geographic tongue (1)
- bone grafting (2)
- bad breath (2)
- clear aligners (2)
- chipped tooth (3)
- x-rays (2)
- bonding (1)
- headgear (2)
- thumb sucking (1)
- adult braces (1)
- teeth grinding (1)
- medicine (1)
- bone loss (1)
- missing teeth (1)
- artificial sweeteners (1)
- Dental Bonding (1)
- Dental Repair (1)
- teething (1)
- sedation dentistry (1)
- periodontal disease (1)
- periodontal surgery (1)
- x-ray (1)
- dental sealants (1)
- toothache (2)
- eating disorder (1)
- retainer (1)
- Family Dentistry (1)
- loose tooth (1)
Categories:
Your teeth were meant to shine! Tooth enamel’s polished translucence, framed by the dentin layer beneath it, has a way of vibrantly catching the light when you smile. But tooth wear and structural changes as you age can dim that shine. Add to that staining caused by foods and beverages or disease and your smile could further lose its luster.
On your supermarket or pharmacy oral hygiene aisle you’ll find dozens of products promising to restore that lost luster, including toothpastes, whitening kits or even chewing gum. While such products work to some degree, our dental office may have the right solution for you: a safe and effective treatment for whitening teeth.
Why see us for teeth whitening? For one, professional whitening solutions contain a higher concentration of bleaching agent (usually 35-45% hydrogen peroxide) than home kits. We usually apply it in a gel form directly to the teeth while using barrier devices like dams to protect the lips and other soft tissue from irritation. We may then apply heat or light to the applied gel to enhance the release of peroxide into your enamel.
This professional procedure can often give you a brighter smile in fewer sessions than a home whitening kit — and it may last longer. What’s more, we can control the level of brightness to produce only a subtle change or a dazzling “Hollywood” smile — whatever your preference.
Like a home kit, this procedure bleaches staining on the outer surface of enamel, known as extrinsic staining. But you can also have discoloration deep within a tooth, known as intrinsic staining, caused by a variety of reasons like tetracycline use early in life or complications from a root canal treatment. Home kits or even the professional treatment described above can’t whiten intrinsic staining.
For intrinsic staining you’ll need a special procedure that places a bleaching agent inside the tooth. Depending on the extent of staining the procedure could require more than one session.
To find out what kind of discoloration you have, visit us for a full examination. We’ll then be able to give you your options for putting the shine back in your smile.
If you would like more information on teeth whitening, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Teeth Whitening.”