Enhance your smile with teeth whitening in Dumont, New Jersey, with Dr. Lee at Cresskill Dental. Dr. Lee and his team are dedicated to your oral health and are invested in improving the appearance of your smile with you.
What is Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening in Dumont, New Jersey, is the act of chemically whitening the appearance of your teeth. Each product uses different ingredients, but one of the main ingredients is carbamide peroxide. When broken down, carbamide peroxide becomes hydrogen peroxide and urea, which is a weak acid. This mixture breaks down the stain molecules making the tooth appear whiter. However, even though the mix of hydrogen peroxide and urea is a weak acid, it can still cause tooth sensitivity or damage if left on too long or not used under the observation of a dentist.
What is the Difference Between At-home Whitening and In-office Whitening?
At Cresskill Dental, we offer both at-home and in-office whitening solutions. Patients who prefer to whiten their teeth at home are usually given a custom-made tray to place the whitening gel and are directed to wear it a certain amount of the day or night. We use custom-made trays instead of one-size-fits-all trays because they are more comfortable and produce a better result. Patients that use whitening trays or strips from over-the-counter products usually have patchy whitening results. At Cresskill Dental, we also offer in-office whitening solutions. In this case, Dr. Lee can use a whitening heat light or not. He will typically place a whitening gel onto your teeth and let it sit for a few minutes. He may repeat this for a few cycles. Then, you can walk out of the dentist that day with a whiter smile.
Should I use Whitening Toothpaste?
Patients who undergo teeth whitening, or even patients who do not, often ask us if they should be using whitening toothpaste. Of course, you should talk with Dr. Lee and his team before you switch toothpaste. However, whitening toothpaste can be beneficial if you do not have tooth sensitivity. Unlike other whitening products, toothpaste does not have a bleaching solution like carbamide peroxide. However, it does produce whiter teeth by containing a mild abrasive quality. Most toothpaste is low-abrasive, but a soft abrasive toothpaste can remove debris and staining on the tooth’s surface. Typically, over-the-counter whitening toothpaste can whiten teeth up to one shade lighter. If you are interested, you can ask Dr. Lee about prescription whitening toothpaste which can whiten teeth up to eight shades lighter.
Should I Use a Whitening Rinse?
Before switching, it is best to discuss new dental products with Dr. Lee and his team. However, if you do not have sensitive teeth, you could benefit from a whitening rinse. The results take longer, about 12 weeks while rinsing 60 seconds twice a day. Unlike whitening toothpaste, most whitening rinses contain whitening bleach such as hydrogen peroxide. Many patients can benefit from whitening toothpaste properties by adding it to their whitening routine.
Why Does Whitening Sometimes Cause Tooth Sensitivity?
Often, your dentist does not recommend that you whiten your teeth without a dental exam first. They recommend this because if you do not have good oral health, teeth whitening could cause tooth sensitivity or damage. However, even if you have good oral health before your teeth Whitening, you may still experience tooth sensitivity. When your dentist uses a bleaching solution on your teeth, the weak acid breaks part of your enamel while busting the stained pieces. Tiny tubules are formed in the tooth called dentinal tubules, which reach the center of the tooth where the blood supply and nerves are housed. These tubules often close themselves within a few days after the procedure, and the tooth sensitivity should decrease.
Teeth Whitening can transform the appearance of your smile. At Cresskill Dental, we are dedicated to helping you achieve your dream smile. For more information about teeth whitening or to schedule an appointment, call our office today.