Say Goodbye to Dull, Stained Teeth
Even with good oral hygiene, maintaining your teeth at their whitest shade can be difficult. Teeth can become stained for various reasons, and sometimes, it’s inevitable. Fortunately, we can help you achieve a considerably brighter set of teeth that’s worth smiling about.
More and more patients are choosing professional teeth whitening to reverse years of stains and discoloration. Learn common reasons why your teeth stain and how our skilled Nashua team can enhance the shade of your smile with our whitening treatments.
What Causes Teeth to Stain
There are a number of factors that can cause teeth to become stained, discolored, or yellowed over time. Common reasons include aging, smoking, genetics, and:
- Eating blueberries, pomegranates, or other dark fruits
- Drinking red wine, coffee, soda, and tea
- Taking certain medications
- Using tobacco products
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Poor oral hygiene
Fast, Effective Results
At Beyond Just Smiles, we proudly feature at-home professional whitening treatments, in-office microabrasion (for medication and fluoride stain removal), and internal bleaching (for traumatized teeth that needed root canal treatment) to enhance the shade of your smile.
With so many options available, it can be difficult to choose the right method. To get started, you’ll want to schedule an appointment. We’ll explain the differences between professional teeth whitening treatments to help you make the best decision for your smile.
In-Office Whitening Solutions
Internal Whitening
While most teeth whitening treatments focus on correcting minor cosmetic flaws like stains from eating and drinking, some patients have discolored teeth as the result of a dental defect. In cases like these, typical whitening solutions won’t be enough to solve the problem.
That’s why we offer internal teeth whitening at our Nashua dental practice. For this method, the whitening agents are applied to the tooth internally after a root canal treatment. These chemicals are then sealed inside the tooth for two to four weeks. Once the desired results are achieved, the whitening chemicals are removed and the tooth is resealed for another two weeks.
Finally, we will complete the treatment by strengthening the tooth with a filling. In most cases, a dental crown won’t be necessary and you can enjoy all the benefits of a healthy, stunning smile.
Microabrasion
For patients who have external stains on their teeth from fluoride or other medications, a microabrasion treatment may be the best solution. This treatment involves removing a small amount of tooth enamel to eliminate stains and discoloration.
Microabrasion is highly effective for patients with mild to moderate fluorosis, though it may not remove deeper stains such as those left by tetracycline.
At-Home Whitening Solutions
Professional Tray Whitening
Tray whitening uses a peroxide-based gel that’s placed in customized trays fitted perfectly over your teeth. As the peroxide in the gel breaks down, hydroxyl radicals help whiten all of your natural teeth, while the glycerin components prevent dehydration sensitivity to provide maximum comfort.
This process can take anywhere from 10 to 14 days, but some people notice results in as little as three to five days. In addition, the trays can be kept for future “touch-ups” as desired.
Paint-On Teeth Whiteners
Paint-on teeth whiteners can be purchased over-the-counter and are generally less expensive and less effective than other whitening solutions. It consists of a whitening gel that’s applied to the tooth using a small brush. The paint-on gel then hardens into a film that coats the teeth and dissolves in the mouth. Results can be sub-optimal with short longevity.
Teeth Whitening Strips
Teeth whitening strips are flexible plastic strips with a thin film of hydrogen peroxide gel on one side used for the upper and lower teeth. The whitening agent is applied by placing the strips across your teeth and gently pressing the strips to ensure contact with all your teeth. Teeth whitening strips are typically worn for 30 minutes a day, twice a day.
Whitening Toothpaste and Mouthwash
Whitening toothpaste and mouthwash are the least expensive options that work to remove surface stains using mild abrasives (“grit” like in sandpaper). These products don’t actually lighten the shade of your natural teeth, but they polish away surface stains that will discolor your teeth.
Our dentist does not recommend these products as the coarse abrasives can damage the roots of the teeth, leading to recession and sensitivity.