Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in your body — even harder than bone. That’s fortunate, because every day, your tooth enamel is exposed to wear-and-tear from biting and chewing, along with acids from the foods you eat and bacteria found naturally in your mouth.
Enamel protects the softer interior parts of your teeth, offering a formidable defense against decay and infection. It also gives your teeth their healthy white color but can be where superficial stains are found, too.
Teeth whitening treatments help remove superficial stains and yellowing that make your smile look dingy and uncared for. But if you’re considering whitening treatments, you might also be wondering if the products used in whitening can damage the important layer of protective enamel.
The good news: Professional whitening treatments at Park Place Smiles are perfectly safe for your teeth. In this post, Minal Patel, DDS, discusses the basics of professional whitening and why it’s the smart choice when it comes to enjoying a whiter, brighter smile.
Tooth stains typically happen when pigments from foods, drinks, or tobacco products collect on the surfaces of your teeth. These pigments cause discoloration that can be easily removed with regular brushing and home hygiene.
Teeth whitening uses special solutions designed to dissolve and break apart staining pigments. Professional whitening formulations are especially effective, dramatically whitening teeth in just a single, one-hour visit.
Best of all, our solutions are specifically designed to remove stains without harming your enamel. That means it’s perfectly safe to whiten and brighten your smile, as long as you choose professional whitening to achieve those goals.
To ensure your teeth and gums remain unharmed during teeth whitening, in-office treatment is your best bet. Not only are professional products designed to be safe for your teeth, but Dr. Patel uses special techniques to protect your teeth and gums for better results and greater confidence about your oral health.
Depending on your needs, Dr. Patel may apply a protective gel to your gums or use a special shield. She also follows an established safety protocol designed to maximize whitening effects while providing total protection for your teeth.
Having your teeth whitened in our office also enables Dr. Patel to repair tiny cracks, fissures, or untreated cavities prior to whitening. These critical repairs protect your teeth and minimize the risk of sensitivity during and immediately after treatment.
Over-the-counter kits are a different matter. It might seem convenient to pick up a whitening kit from the grocery store or online, but those are a one-size-fits-all approach to whitening, which means you’re not going to achieve the same results as you would with professional whitening. It also means you could damage your tooth enamel and gums.
Since you're not a trained dental professional, there’s also a lot of room for user error with over-the-counter whitening kits. Applying the product too liberally or too often can result in gum irritation, along with rough or soft enamel. Combine those risks with the likelihood of inferior results, and the benefits of professional whitening are undeniable.
Bottom line: Teeth whitening is perfectly safe for your enamel, as long as you opt for professional whitening treatments. To learn more about in-office teeth whitening and how it can help you look your best, book an appointment online or over the phone with Park Place Smiles in Glendora, California, today.
