Teeth Whitening Specialist

What causes teeth to become stained?

Your teeth can turn dull or discolored for several reasons, including:

• Not brushing or flossing frequently enough
• Smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco
• Eating too many foods with dark pigments, like berries and tomato-based sauces
• Drinking too many beverages with dark pigments, like coffee, red wine, or soda

Teeth also naturally change color as you get older. Over time, the hard enamel on the outside of your teeth wears down and gets thinner. Meanwhile, the soft dentin inside your teeth turns yellow. The combination of the yellowing dentin and the thinning enamel can make your smile look less white.

How does teeth whitening work?

Numerous techniques can professionally whiten your teeth. They all involve the same basic principle: applying a whitening solution that affects the outer surface of your teeth. The solution penetrates the tooth enamel and breaks up pigments associated with staining. After the stains dissolve, the natural whiteness of your teeth shows through, giving you a more radiant smile.

What are the different types of teeth whitening?

Dr. Aurasteh and her team at Oral Care Dentistry offer Zoom and Ultradent teeth-whitening products. Both use specific whitening solutions to make your teeth many shades whiter. Dr. Aurasteh personalizes teeth-whitening treatments based on the current color of your teeth and your desired whiteness. You can choose in-office or at-home teeth whitening.

During in-office whitening, your dental provider applies a whitening agent to your teeth using custom-fit whitening trays. They might also use a special LED light to speed up the process, making your teeth up to eight shades whiter after just 45 minutes. At-home whitening products available at Oral Care Dentistry aren’t quite as strong, but you can still achieve the same whitening results after multiple treatments.

Does teeth whitening hurt?

Teeth whitening is a non-invasive procedure that usually doesn’t cause any pain. Some patients experience increased sensitivity in their teeth after their whitening. Still, the discomfort is generally minimal, resolves itself fairly quickly, and can be alleviated with a special toothpaste that you can pick up from a local pharmacy or Dr. Aurasteh.

Is teeth whitening safe?

Professional teeth whitening is a safe way to improve the appearance of your smile radically. Whitening your teeth with store-bought products, however, is less so.

Over-the-counter whitening strips and trays have become increasingly popular in recent years, but they’re potentially harmful to your oral health. Because the bleaching gel isn’t applied under professional supervision, it frequently leaks out and comes into contact with your gums, where it acts as an irritant.

The whitening solution used in these store-bought products is also not nearly as strong as what you can get with professional treatment, so your smile won’t turn out as white and radiant.

For truly pearly whites, schedule a professional treatment with Dr. Aurasteh at Oral Care Dentistry: Parnaz Aurasteh, DDS. You can book your visit by calling the office or using the online scheduling tool.