What’s the Best Way to Whiten Teeth?
Searching for the best way to whiten teeth? Our cosmetic dentists in Plymouth, MI, would be more than happy to help you explore your treatment options. Whether you’re looking to achieve dramatic results in one appointment or gradual dental whitening from the comfort of your own home, we’ll help you achieve your best smile yet! We also offer oral hygiene counseling to improve your overall health and wellness.
In the meantime, here’s what our teeth whitening dentists in Plymouth, MI, want you to know.
Practice Good Oral Hygiene
Plaque is an invisible film of bacteria that lives on your teeth. Over time, plaque buildup can increase your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Hardened plaque (tartar) can also give your teeth a yellow or brown-colored tinge. One of the best ways to protect your white smile is to brush twice a day and floss once daily.
Most dentists agree that you’ll need to brush your teeth for at least two minutes at a time. If we still find plenty of plaque and tartar on your teeth, we may recommend adding a fluoride mouthwash to your oral hygiene routine.
Schedule Routine Teeth Cleanings
Brushing and flossing your teeth at home is important, but it isn’t enough to fully protect oral health. You’ll also need to make sure you schedule a teeth cleaning with our office to remove plaque and tartar from teeth.
Only one of our dental professionals will be able to remove tartar from teeth. If you have a lot of tartar buildup, your smile will look slightly whiter after your appointment. Your dental hygienist will use a tool called a scaler to gently scrape plaque and tartar from teeth.
Avoid Staining Drinks and Foods
If you want to keep a naturally white smile, you’ll want to limit certain foods and drinks. Coffee is one of the biggest culprits behind tooth discoloration. While we understand that coffee provides that much-needed boost of energy as you’re trying to get out the door, it can also stain teeth over time.
Even if you don’t stop drinking coffee completely, you might want to cut down on how much you drink each day. Other foods that stain teeth include wine, tea, tomato sauce, and berries. Be aware that lots of alcoholic drinks also stain your teeth as well as smoking.
Strengthen Enamel
Underneath your tooth enamel is a brownish layer called dentin. If your natural enamel wears away, the dentin is exposed, which can lead to a discolored or stained appearance. It’s important to preserve your natural tooth enamel, as once it’s gone, you can’t get it back.
A good oral hygiene routine and regular dental visits can help you keep your enamel intact. Limiting high sugar/acidic foods and drinks should help your teeth remain whiter longer and help keep your enamel strong too.
Avoid Over-the-Counter Options
While there are plenty of over-the-counter options for , such as whitening strips or charcoal toothpastes, many of these products can actually damage your teeth in the long run.
Certain natural remedies, like using lemon juice and baking soda, can strip away the enamel on your teeth, weakening them and possibly causing tooth sensitivity. Ask our Zoom whitening dentists for your options if you’re interested in improving the shade of your teeth.
Consult with Our Cosmetic Dentists
Curious to learn if you’re a candidate for Zoom whitening at home? Our dentists may recommend to help you achieve a whiter smile. First, we’ll need to take impressions of your teeth to send to the lab. When you come back for your second appointment, your teeth whitening tray will be ready. Our dentists may slightly adjust the fit of your tray so it fits comfortably.
We also offer Zoom teeth whitening, which is done in our office. The Zoom whitening procedure is a process where one of our dentists applies a special whitening gel to your teeth that works in conjunction with a Zoom light to break down the stains and fix discoloration.
Explore Your Other Treatment Options
Each smile is different. If you only need to improve the shade of one tooth, our dentists may recommend dental crowns or porcelain veneers. Our dentists may suggest porcelain veneers to save as much natural tooth structure as possible. Veneers are wafer-thin porcelain shells we bond to the fronts of your teeth that show when you smile or talk.
Book a Teeth Whitening Consultation
Are you ready to get started? We have great news! Our , are accepting new patients. To determine if you’re a candidate for Zoom teeth whitening, please call Plymouth Dentistry at (734) 459-7110. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.
This blog post has been updated.