Do you have unsightly stains on your teeth? If so, you might be thinking about visiting a “teeth whitening dentist near me” to ask about your options. Certainly, whitening treatments can do wonders for removing discoloration! But how many sessions will you need? How often should you whiten your teeth? This blog post provides some helpful information.
One Treatment May Be Enough
Some types of teeth whitening services, specifically those that are performed in a dental office, are designed to work very quickly. In as little as one appointment, which may take less than an hour, your teeth could become several shades brighter! With professional take-home whitening kits, you may need to use them daily for two weeks or so.
If you have particularly stubborn stains, or certain types of stains, your dentist may be able to identify them before you try to whiten your teeth. You might need other treatments, such as dental bonding or veneers, to achieve your desired results.
Beware of Over-Whitening
Keep in mind that if your teeth do not end up the color you hoped for, you should not go buy a whitening kit from the store and use it immediately after a professional treatment. Whitening your teeth too often or too frequently can damage your tooth enamel and cause severe sensitivity.
Depending on the whitening method used, you should only try to whiten your teeth once every 6 – 12 months or so.
Protecting Your Results
Since over-whitening your teeth can endanger your oral health, it would be wise to take steps to protect the results of any whitening treatment that you undergo. To keep your smile as bright as possible for as long as possible, you should:
- Minimize your intake of highly pigmented foods and beverages, such as coffee, berries, and tomato-based products.
- Maintain a thorough oral hygiene routine. (It should be fine to use a gentle whitening toothpaste to minimize new surface stains.)
- Do not smoke or chew tobacco.
- See your dental team every six months for a professional cleaning and checkup. (Your hygienist can polish your teeth and remove surface stains.)
You will probably need just one teeth whitening session to find new confidence in your smile! Talk to your dentist about how you can achieve your desired results.
Meet the Practice
At Capital Smiles in Schenectady, Dr. Erin Page and our team are proud to offer advanced ZOOM! teeth whitening services. If you are interested in brightening your smile, or you have questions about how you can get rid of stubborn discoloration, we would be pleased to speak with you. Get in touch with our office at 518-374-0317.