Okemos, Lansing, East Lansing MI
With age comes the chances of stained and dingy teeth. Tooth enamel grows thinner over time, too, exposing more of the yellow dentin inside the tooth. Foods and beverages that we enjoy — wine, tomato sauces and coffee, for example — are notorious for staining the white surface of teeth.
Professional teeth whitening is the most requested procedure in our Okemos cosmetic dental office. In a single visit, our cosmetic dentists can brighten your smile, removing years of stains from the surface of your teeth and returning your smile to its youthful glow.
Before turning to professional teeth whitening, many people try over-the-counter treatments that either produce less-than-ideal results or take too long, causing the person to give up before the treatment is complete. On the other hand, whitening in our dental office takes one visit — perhaps more depending on the desired shade — and the results are astonishing!
Many people want to know if whitening has any downsides for dental health. Even if you’d prefer to try over-the-counter whiteners, be sure to ask our dental professionals about which product they’d recommend. Our cosmetic dentists in Lansing also want you to be aware of a few potential dental issues from using those easily accessible whitening kits in big box stores.
Take a look at the following list so that you’re prepared for any dental problems that may arise:
Sensitive teeth
The ingredients in over-the-counter whitening products can cause more teeth sensitivity than professional whitenings. Sensitivity is caused by the bleaching ingredient soaking into the tooth’s surface and close to the dentin inside the tooth. This exposes the tooth’s nerves or makes them vulnerable. The result is sensitive teeth after bleaching at home.
Gum irritation
One of the primary complaints from at-home whitening kits is gum irritation after use. Strong chemicals in, for instance, whitening strips or trays are placed against the tooth but also often seep into gum tissue during treatment. Irritation depends mostly on the amount of bothersome chemicals in the at-home kit and how long the product was in contact with the gums.
Uneven whitening
Another big complaint from over-the-counter whitening kits is uneven whitening after treatment. Teeth can respond differently to whitening, sometimes leading to some teeth being whiter than others or even some teeth appearing spotty.
Cosmetic Dentist in East Lansing and Okemos
Over-the-counter whitening kits will not always deliver consistent results, which often leads to unhappy customers with teeth that are still dingy or discolored. Worse, they can lead to chemical burns on the gums and teeth that are more sensitive than they were before the whitening treatment. Our cosmetic dentists at Tenaglia Smiles, on the other hand, create whitening trays that are customized to each patient’s teeth and mouth. This keeps the whitening product from seeping onto gums. It also provides more consistent whitening of all teeth. Interested in knowing more about this popular cosmetic treatment? Schedule a consultation with us by calling (517) 940-8684 today!