Your smile welcomes people into your life, whether for a few moments or forever. With the importance of this first impression, you want white, youthful and vibrant teeth. When your teeth appear discolored or stained, you lose confidence in your smile. That is why many people seek professional teeth whitening at Marketplace Dental Excellence.

Your dentist at Marketplace Dental Excellence provides a dental exam, in which you learn whether professional teeth whitening is right for you. Meanwhile, you can learn more about this helpful dental service.

What Causes Stains on Teeth?

Close up of smiling woman who has undergone professional teeth whiteningHard enamel provides the white outer layer of your teeth that people see when you smile, laugh and talk. As you age, this mineralized layer suffers tiny breaks in its surface. Through those tiny breaks discoloring agents enter, causing stains.

Smoking cigarettes or using other types of tobacco exposes your teeth to stains from tar and nicotine. Medications sometimes stain teeth, too. Medications that are known to cause discoloration include tetracycline and doxycycline. Drugs used for asthma, high blood pressure and allergies also affect your smile.

Some stains occur because of the foods and drinks we consume. Some of these foods and beverages contain dark coloring that sticks to your teeth. Good examples of these types of foods and beverages include coffee, tea, soda, red wine, tomato sauces, and berries.

If you experience a condition called fluorosis when young, your teeth may discolor from this over-fluoridation. Aging also wears your tooth enamel away, exposing the darker dentin layer.

At-Home Options for Professional Teeth Whitening

Many people think professional teeth whitening only takes place in the dental office. This is not true. Your dentist also offers take-home whitening trays. You use these trays to whiten your smile at home, instead of in the dental chair.

Custom-fit whitening trays come from a specialized lab. This lab crafts the trays using molds of your mouth taken during a dental visit. At-home whitening works well for natural tooth surfaces. But your fillings or other restorations may require replacement through restorative dentistry Queen Creek AZ if they show discoloration.

During the second visit to Marketplace Dental Excellence, the dentist checks your tray fit. You also receive the whitening gel used to fill the trays before placing them on your teeth. You wear these trays for two 30-minute sessions or while you sleep. After about a week, you have a whiter, brighter smile.

Professional Teeth Whitening in the Dental Office

At Marketplace Dental Excellence, Zoom! Whitening provides a more youthful smile in about an hour. The Zoom! Whitening service begins with the patient undergoing a professional teeth cleaning and an exam of your existing restorations. If you qualify for teeth whitening Queen Creek AZ, the process begins.

The dentist or dental hygienist will place a lip retractor in your mouth to hold it open. A protective gel keeps your gum line safe from irritation of the whitening agent. The dentist applies bleach with hydrogen peroxide to your teeth.

Next, a specially designed light activates the bleaching agent for about 45 minutes. As the hydrogen peroxide reacts to the light, it attaches to stains. This process lifts stains away and reveals teeth of up to eight shades whiter. You leave the dentist’s office pleased with your immediate results from teeth whitening Queen Creek AZ.

Keeping Your Teeth Youthfully White

Professional teeth whitening works very well. But the results do not last forever. You can help your teeth stay vibrantly white longer, through several measures. These measures include:

  • Drinking lots of water
  • Using a straw for drinking
  • Stopping your tobacco use
  • Avoiding staining foods and drinks
  • Brushing and flossing every day
  • Visiting your dentist twice each year for professional cleanings

Through professional teeth whitening Queen Creek AZ you can have the bright, confident smile you have long wanted. Other Marketplace Dental Excellence services helping you smile confidently include:

Remember to see your dentist twice each year, for your healthiest teeth and gums. Teeth cleaning during these visits help maintain the results of professional teeth whitening. Call Marketplace Dental Excellence now at 480-545-8700 for an appointment.