The Truth about Teeth Whitening

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1 "Is teeth whitening SAFE?" "What are the TOP 10 foods & beverages that will stain my teeth?" "How can I get FREE teeth whitening for life?" The Truth about Teeth Whitening A special report from Friendly Smiles Cosmetic Dentistry

2 Who doesn t want a bright white smile? Fortunately, we have many choices in whitening products to choose from to achieve a beautiful white smile. This guide provides information on different teeth whitening procedures, answers commonly asked questions about teeth whitening, and lets you know what foods and beverages are most likely to stain your teeth. This guide ends with information on the White Smile for Life program that Friendly Smiles Cosmetic Dentistry offers to its patients in which enrolled patients get free teeth whitening for life! * *See office for complete details

3 Author Stacey Sell, RHD Clinical Manager, Hygienist Stacey Sell has been a Dental Hygienist since 1995 and enjoys helping many people achieve bright and healthy smiles. She started out as a Dental Assistant in 1992 and soon after that, decided that she wanted to continue her education and was accepted into the dental hygiene program in 1993 at North Dakota State College of Science. Stacey graduated with an Associate's degree in Dental Hygiene in She has been a part of the Friendly Smiles Team since January 2006 and enjoys working with Dr. Barfield and the rest of the team immensely. Her main focus is as Clinical Manager at Friendly Smiles but she also enjoys working in hygiene as well. Stacey loves being able to have the opportunity to help people achieve a bright and healthy smile that they will enjoy forever.

4 Table of Contents Is teeth whitening right for you?. 5 Types of whitening products... 6 Commonly asked questions 7 Top foods & beverages that stain 9 White Smile for Life. 10

5 Is teeth whitening right for you? Teeth whitening is a process of bleaching your teeth with a hydrogen peroxide gel that makes your teeth appear whiter. The first and most important step before starting any whitening system is to visit your dentist and hygienist and have a professional cleaning and exam done to rule out any dental concerns before you start your whitening. Your dentist and hygienist will review with you any dental concerns they may have and determine if you are a candidate for whitening. Possible concerns that a dentist may have can include, but are not limited to: Active decay Active gum/tissue inflammation Composite (white) fillings, crowns or veneers on the front teeth that will not whitening during the whitening process Recession (areas of root surface that are exposed) that can cause sensitivity to the whitening process 5

6 Types of whitening products There are many different whitening products to choose from. They will all whiten your teeth but the main difference is the time it will take to whiten your teeth. Over-the-counter whitening products These are products that can be purchased in stores such as Crest Whitestrips. Professional strength white strips These are products you purchase from your dentist. We sell professional strength Crest Whitestrips, which are 80% stronger than the over-thecounter ones. These also come in a 3 week supply instead of a 2 week supply. Custom at-home bleaching trays These are custom trays made specifically for you by your dental office and are made to fit your teeth. You place a small amount of the peroxide gel in the upper and lower tray and are worn for a specific amount of time, depending on your need and tolerability. They are usually worn for 30 minutes twice a day, but can be worn up to 1 hour for 1-2 weeks. Zoom in-office whitening This is a process that is done at your dental office. Total appointment time is around 2 hours. The first step is to protect all tissues surrounding your teeth by covering them with a protective gel. Next, a peroxide gel is applied to your teeth and a special light is placed over your teeth in 3-4 sessions for 15 minute intervals. More than one visit may be necessary to obtain the whitening desired or can be used in combination with an at-home tray system to achieve the desired result. 6

7 Commonly asked questions Is teeth whitening safe? Yes, whitening is safe for your teeth when done in moderation. After your initial whitening has been completed, touch ups may be wanted or needed every 6 to 12 months. This can depend on staining habits that are present. Are there any side effects from teeth whitening? The main side effect of whitening is tooth sensitivity to air or extreme temperature changes, such as eating something really hot or cold. This occurs because during the whitening process there are tubules or pores that open up and allow passage to the inner part of the tooth which causes the sensitivity. Saliva contains minerals that aid in healing these pores but to help speed the process along, sensitivity toothpaste can be used to aid in the healing of these pores. Can you bleach your teeth during pregnancy or nursing? We suggest that pregnant women and nursing mothers delay whitening until after the pregnancy or nursing. 7

8 Will teeth whitening make my white fillings, crowns or veneers whiter? No, only natural tooth structure will whiten. White fillings, crowns and veneers will not whiten. But this does not mean you cannot whiten your teeth. You may choose to replace fillings, crowns and veneers. You should discuss the options that would be best for you with your dentist. Can I bleach my teeth when I have untreated cavities? No, we suggest you have you cavities repaired before whitening your teeth to prevent extreme sensitivity. If you are in a situation that is involving a cavity in your front teeth and you want your teeth whiter, discuss this with your dentist first and they will recommend an appropriate treatment plan. Can you whiten your teeth using whitening toothpaste? Toothpastes remove stains from the surface of the enamel by using a mild abrasive; they do not change the color of the enamel. How long does the whitening results last? Tooth whitening is not permanent. Teeth that are exposed to certain foods and drinks that cause staining will see a gradual fading of the whiteness of their teeth as early as one month. If staining type foods and drinks are avoided as much as possible, the whitening could last a year or longer before the need for whitening touch-up. (See the next section for examples for foods and drinks to avoid) 8

9 Top 10 foods & beverages that stain There are many foods and drinks that can affect the color of your teeth. Basically anything that you would be worried about staining a white t-shirt can and will stain your teeth. Here are the top 10 foods and beverages that stain teeth: 1. Wine - Surprisingly, both red AND white wine can stain your teeth. Red wine contains tannins which stain teeth and research has shown that people who drink white wine and then tea were more likely to develop stains. 2. Tea - Ordinary black tea is rich in tannins which stain teeth and is a bigger stainer than coffee. Herbal, white, and green teas aren't as likely to stain your teeth as black tea. 3. Coffee 4. Cola - Both dark colored and light colored soft drinks are highly acidic and promote staining of teeth by other foods and drinks. 5. Sports drinks 6. Sauces - Examples include soy sauce, tomato sauces, and curry sauces. 7. Berries - Examples include blackberries, cherries, grapes, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, and pomegranates. 8. Beets 9. Sweets - Examples include popsicles, slushies, artificially colored candies, and other sweets that turn your tongue into a funny color. 10. Acidic foods - These foods can weaken tooth enamel which promotes staining of teeth by other foods and drinks. 9

10 With the White Smile for Life program that we offer to current patients at Friendly Smiles Cosmetic Dentistry, our patients can keep their smiles bright and beautiful for life! When a patient enrolls in the White Smile for Life program, we make them custom bleaching trays and give them a startup bleaching gel kit. This program has a one time enrollment fee of only $99. This is a savings of more than $200! Patients then receive a FREE touch-up tube of bleaching gel at each of their 6 month preventive visits for life! * What we ask of our patients enrolled in the program in return is: They need to keep up with their six month preventive care visits. We care about our patient's long term dental health and keeping up with regular 6 month checkups greatly reduces the chances of dental problems and emergencies. We are happy to offer this program as an additional benefit to our patients who are committed to their long term dental health. They need to provide us with at least 24 hours notice if they need to cancel or change an appointment. If you are interested in enrolling in this program, please call our office at and we will get you started! *See office for complete details. The touch-up tube is what is required to maintain whiteness for the average dental patient. Additional gel is available for purchase for patients desiring even brighter teeth or those with natural gray tones. There is no guarantee that whitening will work for everyone. If a patient loses, grinds, or breaks their custom trays, they can purchase another one for $ The cost of replacement trays and gel will be evaluated annually & adjusted to reflect changes in material and operating costs. Patient's White Smile for Life membership is valid as long as Dr. Barfield retains her private practice in dentistry. 10