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The natural color of your teeth is determined by the thickness of enamel (outer tooth surface) and the color of dentin (inside tooth color). As people age, the white enamel thins and the yellow dentin creates a darker tooth color. Teeth whitening involves the use of hydrogen or carbamide peroxide in varying concentrations to penetrate the tooth and create a whiter, brighter smile. Teeth whitening can be done via in-office Zoom! Whitening, custom bleaching trays or a combination of the two. With in-office teeth whitening, you will have a whiter, brighter smile in about an hour. With bleaching trays used on a consistent basis, you will achieve a whiter smile within 2 weeks. Bleaching is usually not recommended for children under 16 so as not to irritate the pulp (soft tissue core) of the tooth. Teeth whitening strips that can be purchased in drug stores can also be used although they tend to be difficult to apply. Bleaching toothpastes typically have little or no effect on whitening teeth. |
