Teeth or Tooth Whitening

Tooth bleaching (tooth whitening) is one of the most popular services we offer — and for good reason! Having a set of beautiful white teeth feels good, healthy, and inspires confidence. There are number of ways you can whiten your teeth, and we’re going to discuss some of them below.

Limitations of dental whitening

Before we discuss the types of whitening, it’s important that you understand that some people become very sensitive after whitening, and that your existing dental restorations such as crowns and white-fillings will not bleach.

At-home whitening

You can purchase many whitening products at the pharmacy including white strips and toothpastes. While these products are not nearly as effective as what we can offer you in the office, they are good items to try out in order to see if you can have some success making your teeth brighter.

In-office whitening

We offer rapid whitening in our office, so you can have your teeth made many shades brighter in just a few hours. The advantage of this approach is that it’s quick, and it works. The disadvantage is that this type of tooth bleaching doesn’t always last as long as the next type of bleaching that we offer.

Take-home whitening

It requires the most time and the most effort, but take-home whitening is the best and most effective way to whiten your teeth. With this approach, we take molds of your teeth and make you trays that are customized to your teeth. Once the trays are ready, we provide you with professional-strength bleaching gel that you use at home daily for approximately 2 weeks (depending upon how dark your teeth are and what results you are looking to achieve).

Teeth Whitening Q & A

How Often Should Your Teeth Be Whitened?

Manufacturers of most teeth-whitening systems recommend them only once or twice a year. While at-home whitening kits are less potent, using them too often may damage the delicate enamel of your teeth, leading to decay and other problems.

Having your teeth professionally whitened takes risks out of the procedure and provides you with bright, white teeth. Professional teeth-whitening systems used by Dr. Cortes and his staff offer long-lasting results. In most cases, once Dr. Cortes whitens your teeth, you won’t have to worry about having them touched up until your next dental checkup.

Is Whitening Toothpaste Safe?

The majority of whitening toothpaste brands on the market use hydrogen peroxide or mild bleaching agents to whiten your teeth. These types of toothpaste are considered safe and can be used on a regular basis without fear of damaging the enamel of your teeth.

If you find a whitening toothpaste contains harsh abrasives, avoid using it. Abrasives can wear away enamel located on the surface of your teeth. Once it’s damaged, your enamel can’t be replaced and is gone forever. If you have questions about which teeth-whitening toothpaste to use, ask Dr. Cortes to recommend one for you.

What are the Benefits of Having Dr. Cortes Whiten Your Teeth?

Having Dr. Cortes and his staff at San Diego Smile Center professionally whiten your teeth offers you several benefits. First, there’s no risk of leaving the solution on too long or using a kit that could harm your teeth. Professional systems also offer results that last much longer than regular, over-the-counter systems that are less potent.

By having Dr. Cortes perform the procedure, you don’t have to worry about preparing the system or the messy cleanup that sometimes comes after. All you have to do is make your appointment, visit Dr. Cortes, and leave his office with whiter, brighter, beautiful teeth.