What is teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening is the process of making your teeth appear lighter by bleaching away stains and some of the general discoloration that develops on your teeth over time. While many people turn to cheaper, over-the-counter products like whitening strips or whitening kinds of toothpaste, professional whitening services get you more dramatic results in a faster time frame.

When you arrive at Bancroft Dobrin Orthodontics for a cosmetic consultation, the team examines your teeth and determines the best plan for your treatment. They can also tell you about the results you can expect based on your level of staining and discoloration and whether or not teeth whitening is the right option for you.

What are my teeth whitening options?

Bancroft Dobrin Orthodontics uses the latest bleaching treatments for professional teeth whitening. During your consultation, the team can tell you about your options, which may include:

Whitening in the office

If you choose to whiten your teeth in the office, the procedure takes roughly 45 minutes to an hour. After shielding your gums, your dentist applies a bleaching product to your teeth and activates it with a curing light.

Bancroft Dobrin Orthodontics uses GLO® whitening, which has been proven to be safe and effective. Some patients have minimal sensitivity, if any.

Take-home whitening kits

Instead of whitening in the Bancroft Dobrin Orthodontics’ office, you may have the option to get a professional take-home kit from GLO whitening.

Who can benefit from teeth whitening?

Professional teeth whitening may be powerful enough to lift stains that over-the-counter products won’t improve, but they still only specialize in certain types of staining. Specifically, you can benefit from teeth whitening if most of your stains and discoloration are within your tooth enamel.

The enamel stains develop when you eat certain foods, drink specific beverages, and consume certain pigmented substances. These include:

• Berries and juices
• Red wine
• Tea and coffee
• Dark cola
• Soy sauce, curry, and marinara sauce
• Tobacco products

You can usually determine if teeth whitening will make a difference by observing the color of your teeth: If they’re yellow, whitening should help. Darker discoloration often originates in deeper layers of the tooth and comes from medications or trauma.

Schedule your appointment for a personalized teeth whitening consultation over the phone or online at Bancroft Dobrin Orthodontics today.