Do you have stained or yellow teeth? Has a lifelong smoking habit left you with dark brown stains and discolored enamel? Those who visit our cosmetic dentist at Maple Dentistry Orlando are always pleasantly surprised to see the positive effect that whitening their teeth can have on their confidence. When you feel good about your appearance, you project a confident attitude that makes you, and others around you, feel good. These days, many of us don’t make it easy to keep our teeth as white as they can be. Consuming coffee, wine, and cola, as well as smoking or chewing tobacco can all gradually make teeth look yellow, stained, dull, and discolored.
Fortunately, professional teeth whitening procedures can reverse the effects of these habits and leave you with a brighter, more youthful smile! We’re pleased to offer two types of teeth whitening treatments at our Orlando practice for your convenience.
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What are My Teeth Whitening Options?
Professional teeth whitening can take place during an appointment at our Orlando-area practice or at your own convenience with our take-home whitening kits. Both options can be extremely effective in lifting mild to severe discoloration, and the best method of whitening for you depends on your preferences, lifestyle, and expectations for the results.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
Do you have a big event like a wedding or class reunion coming up and want to see fast, dramatic results? Chairside teeth whitening is efficient, and will have you out of our office in about an hour.
The system works by applying a light-activated hydrogen peroxide solution to your teeth. This whitening gel penetrates dental enamel and bleaches underlying stains. Some studies show that using a lamp to activate the gel significantly increases its effectiveness. This whitening treatment has been proven to brighten teeth by as many as eight shades in a single appointment!
During the procedure, you’re welcome to relax and listen to music. In-office teeth whitening is a quick procedure, so you can have your teeth whitened during lunch and return to work with a bright new smile!
Custom Take-Home Teeth Whitening Kits
If you don’t have time to come to our office for whitening or prefer to whiten at home, we also offer take-home kits. With take-home options, we take impressions of your teeth to create whitening trays that fit perfectly, keeping the bleaching gel on your teeth and preventing it from contacting sensitive gum tissue. Using the trays and whitening gel every day for about 20–30 minutes can brighten your tooth color by about six shades. The process is fast, easy, and at the end of two weeks, your smile will look about six shades brighter than when you started.
One big advantage of custom whitening trays over store-bought trays is they fit snugly over your teeth to evenly cover all surfaces. You’ll see more consistent results this way, and a custom fit also ensures the gel stays on your teeth and away from your gums.
Additional Teeth Whitening FAQs
Which foods and drinks stain my teeth?
Rows of beautiful, healthy teeth aren’t nearly as impressive when they’re stained! While we can remove these stains with professional teeth whitening, some foods and beverages you consume are known to stain teeth:
- Foods – There’s a long list of foods that stain your teeth, including beets, dark berries, soy sauce, tomato sauce, and balsamic vinegar. A good rule of thumb is that if it can stain your clothes, it can probably stain your teeth too.
- Sodas – Soda contains high levels of acids that harm your teeth. The combination of these acids and the dark dyes and colorings of some sodas can stain your teeth. Drinking through a straw can help minimize stains caused by drinking soda.
- Dark teas – Black or dark tea stains your teeth more readily than coffee because it has more tannins — a known staining agent. Green and white teas are much less likely to cause teeth staining.
- Red and white wine – Many people know that red wine stains teeth, but white wines also play a part. While it doesn’t deposit stains on your teeth as red wine does, white wine is acidic, which can make your teeth more prone to staining.
If you're ready to boost your confidence and the brightness of your smile, please call Maple Dentistry Orlando to arrange a dental cleaning.
How can I prevent stains on my teeth if I smoke?
The honest answer is that you can’t. While it may occur in varying degrees, smoking or chewing tobacco will inevitably leave yellow or brown stains on your teeth.
It’s a challenge to quit smoking, but you have to choose between the habit and bright, white teeth. Smoking is also bad for your oral health in general because smokers are more prone to gum disease.
Therefore, quitting not only has a positive impact on your general health, but it also benefits your oral health and your bright, beautiful smile. In addition, schedule dental cleanings at our office every six months. Professional teeth cleanings help remove surface stains and refresh your smile.How can I minimize stains from foods and drinks?
We understand that you may not want to eliminate staining foods and drinks from your diet entirely, and you don’t have to. But what can you do to reduce your risk of the resulting stains? Here are a few helpful tips that will help minimize stains:
- Rinse your mouth out after eating or drinking anything that could stain your teeth. This means after a cup of dark tea, swish around a little water to rinse it away and keep it from staining them.
- Don’t brush immediately after consuming staining foods because it actually does more harm than good. A better idea is to wait half an hour while the acid neutralizes, then brush.
- Another good idea is to drink staining beverages through a straw. This way, it doesn't come into direct contact with your teeth.
Would you like to learn more about our teeth whitening treatments? We would love to show you the dramatic difference that these products can make for your smile, so please contact Maple Dentistry Orlando. We’ll be happy to arrange your next dental cleaning so we can talk about the benefits of using teeth whitening.