At Main St Dental Gresham, we get a fair amount of questions from our patients about teeth whitening. Here are a few of the more common ones, along with some basic answers. If you’d like to learn more about modern teeth whitening methods, contact us today to start the conversation – our techniques can have your teeth looking shades whiter in a quick appointment.

Will a Dentist Perform Teeth Whitening?

Most dentists will, yes. In fact, because dentists have access to more powerful substances than are available at home, more profound changes can be expected from the in-office procedures. Talk to your dentist to learn what options are available.

Why Do Teeth Yellow?

Teeth Get Yellow for a Number of Reasons

Teeth becoming yellow over time is as normal as graying hair – it is part of the aging process. As we get older, our tooth enamel begins to thin due to everyday wear and tear. This causes the layer beneath our enamel, called the dentin, to show more, giving our teeth a more yellow appearance.

There are other factors that can cause teeth to yellow other than aging however, such as:

• Tobacco use
• Food and drink
• Poor dental hygiene
• Dental trauma
• Certain medications

If you want to prevent your teeth from yellowing as best you can, you’ll have to address some of your lifestyle habits. If you use tobacco in any form, quit. Consume acidic food and drink in moderation and monitor your intake of beverages that can stain your teeth such as wine, coffee, tea, soda, etc. And as always, brush up on your oral hygiene habits and make sure you’re getting frequent cleanings!

The Way You Whiten Your Teeth Depends on the Stain

There are two types of stains that you can have on your teeth. Surface, or “extrinsic” stains, caused by smoking and diet occur on the surface of the enamel. “Intrinsic” stains are deeper, and happen inside the tooth.

You can remove surface stains on your teeth by using a whitening toothpaste. These kinds of toothpastes usually contain special abrasives that gently polish the teeth as well as certain chemicals that can help break down stains. These toothpastes can be tough on tooth enamel, so make sure to always read labels when using them–some should only be used temporarily.

Intrinsic stains can’t be helped by whitening toothpastes. To get that brighter smile, you’ll need to actually change the color of your teeth. You can do this using a bleaching agent. The bleaching agents most products use are hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. These chemicals break stains into smaller pieces, making their color less concentrated and leaving your teeth much whiter! Some of the most common ways to bleach your teeth are whitening strips and gels, tray-based tooth whiteners, and in-office whitening services supervised by a dentist.

What Strength of Peroxide is Used at Home vs. at the Dentist’s Office?

Many of us know some form of peroxide does the whitening whether it is take home or in office. The main difference is in the strength of peroxide and whether or not the patient can protect the surrounding structures such as the gums, lips, and cheeks. Dr. Messina says in a recent article in Allure, “If we’re doing something where we can mask off the gum tissue…where the gum tissues are protected, we can use a stronger whitening agent…because it’s only touching the teeth,” she goes on to say “Something you’re using over-the-counter has the potential to touch the gum tissues or be swallowed. So, we have to use a much lower strength of the active ingredient because…it might burn [the patient’s] gum tissues.” Professionals, on the other hand, “can take all the necessary precautions to make sure the gum tissue is safe and protected and the whitening agent is only getting on the tooth enamel that we want whiter.”

So what this means is that over-the-counter products work great, but it just might take longer and more frequent dosages of whitening agent.

Does Charcoal Work as a Teeth Whitener?

If you are using charcoal, use a charcoal-containing toothpaste rather than as a stand-alone, which can wear your enamel away and cause gum recession. Other things to keep in mind:

1. Use in moderation for safe whitening. The coarseness of the charcoal is what makes it remove stains – but there are easier and safer ways to do this
2. Do not ingest any of the charcoal – it can be extremely toxic. Please do not let kids or teens use this method for this reason
3. In-office or over-the-counter whitening products are safer and quicker to use (e.g. Crest White Strips or in-office whitening with Main Street Dental)

How Much Does Teeth Whitening Cost?

The out-of-pocket cost for cosmetic dentistry depends on your exact needs and insurance. Whitening is usually about $200 per session, but contact us for details.

What are the Next Steps?

Whether food or age is the reason your teeth aren’t as white as you like, you can get your gleaming white smile back through professional whitening at our practice! Over-the-counter whitening treatments are always an option, but the safest, healthiest, and most effective whitening method is to leave it to the professionals.

Our whitening takes only an hour. Before you leave, we will give you complimentary custom trays and gel to take home so you can perform additional whitening or maintenance. When you come back for your next cleaning at Main Street Dental Gresham, ask for complimentary whitening gel and he will take care of you!