subject: Understand Your Whitening Options For A Brighter Smile In The New Year [print this page] While you may be making your New Year resolution to workout more, or eat better, why not focus on a brighter, whiter smile, as well? With a brighter, whiter smile you can start your New Year off on the right foot. The perks of white teeth are abundant, and by understanding your options you can establish a smile that will impress everyone in the New Year. From knowing how to properly care for your teeth to in-office and take-home whitening treatments, your dentist in Parsippany, NJ can help you start the New Year with a sparkling smile.
Let's Start with the Basics
To begin with, it is important to understand how to properly care for your teeth. Sometimes, just taking extra care of your teeth will bring out a brighter smile. Remember to brush your teeth at least two times a day-typically in the morning and before bed. Brushing your teeth helps to remove plaque that cause dental complications and eliminates foods that might stain your teeth. Additionally, it is important to floss your teeth at least once a day. Flossing is used to remove hidden foods that might get caught between your teeth in areas that a toothbrush can't reach. By flossing and brushing your teeth every day, you can ensure that you maintain a healthy mouth and a sparkling smile.
Experience Fast Results with In-Office Whitening
With in-office whitening, you can whiten your smile without the wait. Through in-office whitening the whitening product is applied directly to the teeth. These products can also be used in combination with heat, a special light, and/or a laser. Typically, you will experience the whitening results in one, 30-60 minute treatment. For more dramatic results, your dentist might require multiple appointments.
Take Home Whitening Kits
Yes, you can purchase whitening kits over-the counter, but these kits do not provide the same results as offered by your dentist. If you would rather whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home, your dentist offers take home whitening kits. These take home whitening trays are custom made to fit your teeth only, which offers superior whitening results. Take home trays involve filling a mouth guard-like tray with a gel whitening solution, which contains a peroxide-bleaching agent. The tray is then worn for a couple of hours a day or every night for up to four week or even longer depending on the degree of discoloration and desired level of whitening.
Supervised vs. Unsupervised Treatments
Dentist-supervised at-home and in-office whitening treatments offer additional benefits compared with over-the-counter procedures. First, your dentist in Parsippany can perform an oral exam and consider your complete medical history before completing treatment. This is helpful in determining if whitening is an appropriate treatment option based on the type and extent of stains, and the number and location of restorations. With over-the-counter whitening products, you are on your own.
If you are interested in whitening your teeth in time for the New Year, talk to your Parsippany, NJ dentist for more information.
