Teeth Whitening in Scottsdale, AZ

You don’t necessarily need to have damaged, decayed, or misaligned teeth to feel self-conscious about your smile. Staining or discoloration is often enough to make you feel uncomfortable flashing your teeth in public, and sometimes not even the best oral hygiene routine can prevent these issues from occurring. Dr. Seerat Mann, Dr. Todd Shatkin, and the team at Mini Dental Implants of America in Scottsdale offer teeth whitening services that can help combat any staining and discoloration you may be experiencing and give you the healthy, radiant smile you’re looking for.

Teeth whitening is an easy and pain-free procedure that typically only requires a single visit to our office. If you’re interested in learning more about how teeth whitening can transform your smile, read on to learn all you need to know.

What Is Teeth Whitening?

Teeth Whitening in Scottsdale, AZ Mini Dental Implant Centers of AmericaTeeth whitening is a simple procedure that involves the use of either carbamide or hydrogen peroxide to break down stains on your teeth, making them look healthier and brighter.

Your cosmetic dentist will first clean your teeth, then cover up your gum tissue and apply the whitening gel, rinsing it off after a certain period of time. They’ll then repeat the process until the stains or discoloration have faded significantly.

There are multiple options available for teeth whitening, some of which can be done at home, but your best bet for making your smile shine is professional chairside bleaching, which is done in-office.

In-office bleaching is not only handled by your highly experienced dentist, meaning you know the procedure is being properly performed, it’s also a lot quicker than the at-home kits which can take up to a few weeks to complete.

Does Teeth Whitening Work on All Teeth?

While teeth whitening can be effective in brightening a wide range of stained or discolored teeth, it does not work in all cases, unfortunately.

If your tooth discoloration is the result of a tooth injury, or if it was caused by a certain medication you’ve been taking, teeth whitening may not be effective. Whitening treatments also won’t work on dental restorations, such as veneers, crowns, fillings, and caps.

If you’re uncertain whether a professional teeth whitening procedure is the right treatment for you, consult your dentist. They’ll be able to determine your best options for brightening your smile.

Teeth Whitening vs. Teeth Cleaning

Teeth whitening is sometimes confused with teeth cleaning. While both can help to provide you with a healthier-looking smile, they actually serve totally different purposes.

Teeth cleaning is intended to protect your oral health and identify any dental issues, while teeth whitening is a strictly cosmetic procedure intended only to brighten your smile.

Are There Any Side Effects Associated with Teeth Whitening?

The teeth whitening procedure is totally safe, and is not associated with any serious side effects, but there are still a few things to consider before receiving your treatment.

There are certain instances in which the bleaching agent can cause temporary tooth sensitivity. There’s also always the chance that your teeth don’t turn out to be quite as white as you anticipated, but that can potentially be remedied by another whitening session.

Overuse of whitening agents can cause damage to the teeth, however, so there is a limit to how many treatments you can receive over a certain period of time.

Common Reasons for Tooth Staining and Discoloration

If you want to whiten your teeth but are curious about why your teeth are no longer as bright and beautiful as they once were, well, there can a number of different reasons for that. We’ve listed the most common ones below.

Certain Food and Drink

Pigments found in a number of different kinds of foods, and certain drinks, can cause staining of the teeth over time. Major culprits range from soy sauce to dark-colored fruits to red wine to coffee to cola and more.

You don’t necessarily need to permanently quit the foods or drinks you enjoy to keep your teeth shiny, but moderation is important. So is a quick rinse with water after you eat or drink something likely to cause staining.

The Aging Process

While you may be able to avoid all of the other things that can stain and discolor your teeth, getting older is inevitable. There’s not much you can do about age-related tooth discoloration other than come in for a teeth whitening every once in a while. Fortunately, that can actually help quite a bit in most instances.

Tobacco

There’s a laundry list of reasons why you should avoid tobacco use, but in case you didn’t already know, it’s also a big culprit when it comes to tooth staining.

It’s not just smoking tobacco that you should avoid, either. Chewing tobacco can cause just as much staining if not more. Kicking the habit, and going in for a teeth whitening treatment, can do wonders for the appearance of your smile.

Dental Trauma

Your teeth can change color due to a dental injury. This is often caused by a lack of blood flow to the teeth. Dental trauma-based tooth discoloration is somewhat similar to bruising on your skin, except the discoloration won’t go away all on its own. Sometimes you’ll need to receive a root canal in order for the tooth’s color to be restored.

Certain Medications

There are a number of different medications that can cause staining on your teeth. Some of the most common are the antibiotics tetracycline and doxycycline, as well as certain high blood pressure medications, some antipsychotic drugs, and some antihistamines.

Food and Drink that Cause Tooth Staining

If you want to avoid going in for teeth whitening procedures, you may want to avoid the following food and drink, or at least consume them in careful moderation.

Coffee and Tea

If you’ve ever seen what coffee can do to a white t-shirt, you shouldn’t be too surprised to learn what it’ll do to your teeth. Although it may not have as rich and dark of a hue, tea is also a major culprit in teeth staining.

This is because both coffee and tea contain chemical compounds called tannins, which can help the dark-colored pigments in both drinks stick to your teeth.

Red Wine

A single evening with red wine can show on your teeth, but while that staining may wash away rather quickly, prolonged consumption of red wine can result in more permanent alterations to your tooth color.

Tomato Sauce

Tomato sauce is notorious for tinting Tupperware, and it can have the same exact effect on your teeth if consumed on a regular enough basis. The bright red color is one of the main reasons for its staining properties, but the acidity which wears away tooth enamel is also to blame.

Dark-Colored Fruit

Fruits with dark pigmentation such as blueberries and blackberries are capable of tinting your teeth just like other foods. Whether you’re eating them whole or in a juice or smoothie, consuming enough of these dark-colored fruits can be a major catalyst for your next teeth whitening procedure.

In Need of a Teeth Whitening in Scottsdale?

If you’re feeling self-conscious about your stained or discolored teeth, Mini Dental Implants of America in Scottsdale can help you out. Contact us today to learn more about teeth whitening costs, or to arrange your free consultation. We serve patients in ScottsdaleMesaTempePhoenix, and throughout the State of Arizona.