Teeth Whitening

Why Are My Teeth Stained?

There are two kinds of stains: extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic stains are those that only appear on the surface of your teeth; they are caused by food, tobacco use, and normal erosion of the enamel. Intrinsic stains, on the other hand, are below the enamel and are often a result of natural aging, trauma, and exposure to tetracycline and excessive amounts of fluoride as a child. While some extrinsic stains can be removed through regular brushing, severe extrinsic and intrinsic stains usually require a professional whitening treatment.

How At-Home Teeth Whitening Works

Your Opalescence take-home whitening kit will include custom-made whitening trays that have been fitted for your smile. The kit also contains a special gel filled with potassium nitrate and fluoride. During the treatment period, you’ll fill the trays with the gel and wear them for a set amount of time each day. The active ingredients in the gel will penetrate your teeth and break down the molecules causing the discoloration, thus dramatically improving the appearance of your teeth. The trays are designed to prevent the gel from migrating so that your teeth will receive the full benefits of whitening during the entire treatment.

How Long Will My Results Last?

Once your teeth are the shade of white that you want, you might wonder how long your brilliant new smile will last. The answer depends largely on your own habits and lifestyle. You will need to brush and floss thoroughly every day. Also, you should limit your consumption of dark-colored beverages like coffee; ideally, you should drink them through a straw to avoid too much contact with the fronts of your teeth. If you’re worried about the results fading, schedule an appointment with us to ask about possible touch up treatments.