The Best Teeth Whitening Happens at Carroll Family Dental

Teeth become yellow and dim slowly over time making it difficult to notice, until one day you realize your pearly whites aren’t so white anymore. Is it an inevitable byproduct of aging, or can you retain a healthy smile your whole life? At Carroll Family Dental, we have excellent solutions for teeth whitening that go beyond what you might expect.

yellow teeth

The most common reason for yellow teeth is lifestyle choices, including smoking, drinking lots of coffee and tea and poor oral hygiene. But those are not the only causes of yellow teeth. The hard outermost surface of the tooth is called the tooth enamel. This is typically the layer that becomes yellowed. But underneath the enamel is a layer of tissue called dentin. If your dentin is naturally more yellow than normal, it will show through the enamel, even if the enamel has been whitened.

For people with heavily yellowed dentin, traditional teeth whitening doesn’t work. Using a tooth whitening toothpaste and over-the-counter whitener may whiten the enamel layer, as will giving up lifestyle choices that yellow teeth and improving oral hygiene habits, but yellow dentin can still show through.

how to whiten teeth

Good oral hygiene habits can restore some color to yellow teeth and keep them from turning yellow in the first place. There are a number of toothpaste brands that offer whitening benefits, and whitening strips are common. These types of treatments gently and slowly bleach your tooth’s enamel layer, and if your teeth and gums are healthy, these are a perfectly acceptable way to reduce yellowing.

While teeth whitening toothpaste is fine for every-day use, other over-the-counter methods should be used sparingly as they can wear away your tooth enamel over time. And for some people, they aren’t strong enough to whiten the teeth at all - though improving oral hygiene is always worth the time and effort it requires.

The best way to whiten teeth is to visit your dentist. A regular checkup is a great time to ask about teeth whitening. Dr. Aaron Carroll and Dr. Katie Carroll can evaluate your dental health during a checkup and determine which method of whitening is best for you, or you can make an appointment to be evaluated for teeth whitening.

teeth whitening at the dentist

There are several advantages to having your teeth whitened at Carroll Family Dental. Before your whitening procedure, Dr. Carroll evaluates your teeth, gums and oral health in general to see if you are a good candidate for teeth whitening. If there is tooth decay or gum disease, these need to be addressed first. Crooked teeth can be straightened first with Invisalign straighteners that work much faster than traditional braces without the discomfort and inconvenience of metal braces.

Once the assessment is complete and preparatory work done, Dr. Carrol will prepare the recommended treatment. The advantages of professional teeth whitening include:

• Proven safety

• Results last up to two years - longer with good hygiene

• Reduced tooth sensitivity

• Dentin can safely be whitened

• Up to 10 shades whiter in under an hour

The treatment typically performed at the dentist uses a whitening gel with gum protection to reduce sensitivity. After the gel is applied, an LED light is used to accelerate the whitening gel. After rinsing your mouth completely, two more applications of whitening gel with an LED light are used before a thorough cleaning and rinsing your mouth is finished.

The duration of your whitening depends a lot on how you treat your teeth. Avoiding foods that stain teeth and good disciplined oral hygiene can prolong the treatment for many years.

Ask Carroll Family Dental about teeth whitening by telling us before, or during your next checkup, or by making an appointment. You may be surprised at how much a bright, healthy smile makes you want to keep smiling!