FAQs about Teeth Whitening

Do you wish your smile was whiter? Teeth whitening, offered by your Portage, MI, dentists, Drs. Jennifer Sarantos and Keith Wester at Wester Dental Care, can help you brighten your smile.

Why do teeth become dull?

Aging, smoking and stains can make your teeth look dull and yellow. In fact, stains are a common culprit if your smile isn't as bright as it once was. Every time you eat a handful of blueberries, drink a cup of coffee, or consume other dark foods and beverages, tiny dark pigments are deposited in microscopic openings in your tooth enamel.

The tiny pores are smaller than toothbrush bristles, which makes it impossible to remove the pigments simply by brushing your teeth. The longer you eat and drink darkly pigmented foods and beverages, the more stained your smile becomes.

How does professional teeth whitening work?

Your Portage dentist whitens your teeth with a whitening gel that contains hydrogen peroxide. The safe, natural chemical breaks apart the pigments in your enamel, leaving your teeth much whiter. It's not unusual to see a three- to eight-shade difference in your smile after whitening. Professional results are much quicker than do-it-yourself whitening. Thanks to the professional-strength hydrogen peroxide solution your dentist uses to whiten your teeth, your whitening session will only take about an hour.

Before whitening begins, your teeth will be cleaned to remove plaque and tartar. Those substances not only increase your risk of tooth decay and gum disease but will also affect your whitening results if they're not removed. Hydrogen peroxide doesn't penetrate plaque and tartar. If you don't have a cleaning before you whiten, your teeth may look spotted.

How can I prolong my whitening results?

Whitening results can last for two or three years or even longer. You can keep your teeth white as long as possible by eliminating or limiting stain-causing foods and beverages from your diet. If you can't give up your morning cup of coffee or tea, drinking the beverages through a straw can help reduce stains in your tooth enamel.

Upgrade your smile with teeth whitening! Call your Portage, MI, dentists, Drs. Jennifer Sarantos and Keith Wester at Wester Dental Care, at (269) 327-1119 to schedule an appointment.

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