Even the brightest smiles fade over time. If your teeth have become dull or stained, teeth whitening, a service offered by your Tomball, TX, dentist, Dr. Dave Dorroh, will help you renew your smile.
Why your smile looks dull
Aging, using tobacco products, or eating or drinking foods that contain dark pigments can contribute to a faded smile. Many foods contain dark pigments, including some of your favorites. When you drink your morning cup of coffee or tea, all of the pigments aren't washed away when you swallow. Instead, they drift into microscopic pores in your tooth enamel. As the pigments collect, your smile begins to look dull or yellow.
Although your toothbrush can remove plaque and food debris, its bristles are too big to get rid of the pigments stuck in your tooth enamel. In addition to coffee and tea, other foods and drinks that can dull your smile include:
- Dark-colored soft drinks
- Sports drinks
- Ice pops
- Brightly colored candy
- Soy and other dark sauces
- Red wine
- Berries
How whitening improves your smile
Teeth whitening gets rid of the pigments trapped inside your tooth enamel and can brighten your teeth by as much as three to eight shades. Hydrogen peroxide, a safe, natural chemical, is the active ingredient in the whitening gel you'll receive during your teeth whitening visit to the Tomball, TX, dental office.
Hydrogen peroxide seeps into the tiny openings in your enamel and breaks apart the stain-causing pigments. Once the pigments are gone, your smile will be noticeably whiter. Although many over-the-counter whitening products also contain hydrogen peroxide, your dentist uses a stronger formulation that offers more impressive results.
Your dentist will provide you with custom-made trays that fit your mouth perfectly. Every night (or as often as directed), you'll put the whitening gel in the trays and place the trays over your teeth. Depending on your whitening goals, the whitening process may last from one to 14 days. Whitening results often last two to three years. If you notice that your teeth are becoming duller at some point, you can use your trays for a quick touch-up.
Improve your appearance with teeth whitening! Call your dentist in Tomball, TX, Dr. Dorroh, at (281) 351-0039 to schedule your appointment.