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From birthdays to graduations to weddings to trade shows, life is full of special events that you’ll want to look your best for, and a beautiful smile is one of the most excellent ways to make a great impression. Unfortunately, years of exposure to dark foods and beverages or tobacco smoke can leave teeth with unsightly stains and discoloration. Here’s a brief guide to how professional teeth whitening treatments from your dentist work and when you should start the process so you can bring your best grin to the event.
What About Store-Bought Teeth Whitening Kits?
While your local supermarket or pharmacy may offer a selection of seemingly affordable over-the-counter dental bleaching products, these methods can leave a lot to be desired. Many patients find that these treatments are ineffective or that they lead to uneven whitening results or even injury due to poor manufacturing or user error. If you’d like a whiter smile, it’s best to leave the whitening process to your dentist so you can enjoy an effective treatment and achieve remarkable results in a reasonable timeframe.
How Does Professional Teeth Whitening Work?
Dentists typically administer teeth whitening treatments in one of two ways, those being:
- An in-office procedure: Your dentist can perform a whitening treatment in about an hour in their office. They will first place barriers in your mouth to protect your soft tissues before applying a few coats of professional-grade whitening agent to your teeth. After they treat your smile with an ultraviolet light to activate the bleaching effect, you’ll notice amazing results.
- A take-home kit: If you’d rather whiten your teeth at home, your dentist can provide you with a whitening kit that includes customized dental trays and a tube of concentrated whitening gel. You’ll only need to fill the trays with gel and wear them over your teeth for about an hour every day for about two weeks.
In either case, you can preserve the results of your whitening treatment by practicing excellent oral hygiene and limiting your intake of stain-causing foods and beverages.
When Should I Start Whitening My Teeth Before My Upcoming Special Event?
Your dentist can perform an in-office teeth whitening treatment in about an hour or offer a take-home kit that can be completed over two weeks. However, you can expect to experience some sensitivity for several days after the treatment, and it’s best to steer clear of any foods or drinks that are darkly colored during this time to prevent new stains from forming. It’s a great idea to schedule your teeth whitening treatment so you can complete it several days or a week before your special event so your teeth have time to recover.
Don’t let dental discoloration make you less happy about smiling at your next special event. Consulting with your dentist can help you find the best way to achieve a brighter smile.
About the Author
Dr. Francisca A. Sanchez earned her dental degree at the Columbia School of Dental Medicine and received state-of-the-art training in dental implant placement from the University of Florida. She is currently a proud member of the New York Dental Association and the American Dental Association. Her office in New York City offers general, restorative, emergency, and cosmetic dentistry such as teeth whitening. To schedule your teeth whitening consultation, contact her office online or dial (646) 669-7407.