Do you have one or more discolored teeth? Are your stained teeth impacting your confidence? If discolored, stained, or yellowed teeth make you hide your smile, we can help. Our professional teeth whitening treatment can brighten the tooth enamel by multiple shades. We welcome our patients to discover more about teeth whitening in our Greenwood, IN office and ask questions about their care.
Q&A: Teeth Whitening in Greenwood, IN
Learn more about tooth discoloration and whitening treatment with answers to these commonly asked questions:
How long should you wait to eat after teeth whitening treatment?
After your teeth whitening treatment, avoid acidic and staining foods for 48 hours after your whitening treatment. You can eat foods and drink beverages that do not easily stain teeth. Do not drink tea, wine, coffee, or sodas.
Does teeth whitening treatment hurt?
Every patient reacts differently to teeth whitening treatment. Some patients have sensitive teeth and may feel soreness or sensitivity after the teeth whitening treatment. We can also recommend a whitening gel with a lower percentage of active ingredients to minimize sensitivity. If patients have extreme tooth sensitivity, we will recommend dental bonding or veneers to address discoloration.
What are intrinsic and extrinsic stains?
Intrinsic tooth stains are stains within a tooth. These types of stains can have multiple causes, from dental erosion to chipped or cracked teeth. Intrinsic stains can show dentin, a dark layer beneath the tooth enamel. Patients with intrinsic stains do not benefit from teeth whitening treatments and may require crowns, veneers, or dental bonding.
Extrinsic tooth stains have causes outside of the tooth, like food, drinks, and tobacco use. Patients with extrinsic stains can benefit from professional teeth whitening treatment. It is much simpler to remove stains that are solely in the enamel and not caused by dentin.
How long does teeth whitening treatment last?
Our in-office Zoom whitening treatment can last patients 12 to 24 months. Using a touch-up kit after treatment can also ensure that results last for many months.
How often should you use take-home Zoom whitening treatment?
Because each patient has different goals, the amount of time they place the trays on their teeth can vary. Generally, patients will wear their Zoom trays and gel for 15-minute segments. Once patients achieve a bright smile, they can perform occasional touch-up treatments.
What can I do to keep my teeth white after a professional treatment?
We encourage our patients to brush and floss daily. Brushing twice a day for two minutes each time and flossing before brushing at least once a day can remove stains and plaque from the smile. Avoiding staining foods and drinks and avoiding tobacco products can also keep teeth white. Additionally, patients can make biannual dental appointments so we can clean and examine their smiles. After about 12 months, patients may need touch-up treatments to maintain results.
Brighten your smile with a professional teeth whitening treatment. Call Dr. Benjamin Stevens at Beautiful Smiles at (317) 886-4512. You may also schedule a dental appointment with our team on our website.