Teeth whitening is one of the fastest and most affordable ways to enhance your smile. At Mitra Hooshangi, DDS, LLC, teeth whitening is ideal for patients with yellowing or stained teeth. Whitening your teeth can make your teeth several shades lighter and make your smile look whiter and brighter. It’s a good choice for patients who want to change their smile significantly. Patients with healthy teeth and gums can also benefit from teeth whitening.

How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

Teeth whitening works using a bleaching agent that bleaches the stains from your teeth. The active ingredient in the bleaching agent is usually either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. These compounds break down into hydrogen peroxide and urea, which are found in nearly every cell in the human body. Hydrogen peroxide is the compound responsible for bleaching your teeth.

Types of Teeth Whitening

Professional Teeth Whitening

Professional teeth whitening is done in a dentist’s office. A hydrogen peroxide gel penetrates deep into the enamel and is applied to your teeth. The gel will remain on your teeth for about an hour, breaking down into oxygen molecules that penetrate the enamel. When these oxygen molecules reach the dentin, they react with the stains, breaking them down and whitening the tooth.

Over-The-Counter Teeth Whitening

Over-the-counter whitening treatments are kits you can buy at the store and use at home. The kits include whitening gel and custom-fitting trays. The gel is usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, and the trays are designed to fit comfortably in your mouth.

The Advantages of Teeth Whitening

Most people are familiar with the fact that teeth can become stained or yellowed over time. This results from exposure to dark foods and beverages, tobacco use, medications, and other factors. However, most people do not realize that whitening their teeth can also improve the appearance of their smiles in different ways. For example, teeth whitening can make teeth appear more evenly spaced. A whiter smile is also more youthful, and many patients who undergo a teeth whitening procedure report feeling more confident and happy with their smiles.

How to Maintain White Teeth?

Your teeth whitening results depend on how well you maintain your new smile. To ensure your teeth stay white, you should continue to avoid dark foods and beverages like coffee, tea, soda, and tobacco. You should also keep up with your oral hygiene routine. Brush your teeth twice a day with whitening toothpaste and floss daily.

Teeth whitening can enhance your appearance by brightening your teeth and making them look healthier. To discover more about the perks of teeth whitening, visit Mitra Hooshangi, DDS, LLC at 2112 Gallows Rd D1, Vienna 22182, or call Dentist in Vienna, VA at (703) 328-3927.