Teeth Whitening Leesburg

Who is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?

Most teens and adults can qualify for modern teeth whitening. As things stand, the treatment’s only major requirement is decent oral health – no untreated cavities, no gum disease, etc. Just keep in mind that whitening can benefit some folks more than others.

The best whitening candidates are those with extrinsic tooth stains. Put another way, treatment is most effective on smiles discolored by foods, drinks, tobacco, and similar sources. It doesn’t work quite as well for intrinsic stains – marks that occur beneath your enamel. However, any patient who wants more confidence should see good results.

How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

At your consultation, Dr. Pham will outline two teeth whitening options for you. The first is a take-home kit that lets you brighten your grin under a flexible schedule. In contrast, the second approach is an in-office treatment performed by Dr. Pham herself.

How long your whitening takes will depend on which method you choose. That said, either approach should brighten your smile by six to eight shades.

Take-Home Teeth Whitening

For take-home teeth whitening, we’ll provide you with custom trays and professional bleaching gel. You’ll then wear the gel-filled trays over your smile for a few hours every day, all from the comfort and convenience of home. This process will show noticeable results after just two weeks or so, leaving your grin much whiter and brighter.

In-Office Teeth Whitening

In-office teeth whitening takes place at our dental practice. At its start, one of our team members will apply bleaching gel directly onto your smile. This powerful solution will then penetrate your enamel to blast away deep, set-in tooth stains. After about an hour, the bleaching gel’s penetration will have made your smile a great deal whiter.

Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile

Unfortunately, teeth whitening is not a permanent solution. Because it is not designed to last forever, you will need touch-ups if you want to maintain your results for longer. The good news is that you can follow some simple and easy steps at home to ensure your brighter, whiter smile stays around as long as possible. Some of these tips include:

• Maintaining a good oral hygiene routine (i.e. brushing twice daily, flossing at least once before bed, rinsing)
• Eating a well-balanced, nutrient-rich diet and limiting sugar and starch
• Avoiding dark-colored beverages that can easily stain your teeth (i.e. coffee, soda, tea, red wine)
• Quitting smoking and using tobacco products
• Avoiding hard, crunchy foods that can break down enamel
• Maintaining regular dental checkups and cleanings with us