Dreaming Of A Whiter Smile For Spring?
The reality could be closer than you realise with help from our Burton cosmetic dentists
Although it’s early days yet, many of us will have spotted a few small signs that the warmer weather is on it’s way. A few buds have started to appear on the trees, and even a few blossoms. It is often these signs that start us thinking about the months ahead when we are free to be outside more and mingle. There are also holidays and weddings too to think about, and this time of the year often sees many of us looking for a new start for the year.
Some of this ‘spring renewal’ is relatively easy to do; a new wardrobe of summer clothes, a new hairstyle and perhaps a renewed enthusiasm for the gym in time for when you are able to lie on the beach. Some things seem less straightforward though and more difficult to change. One of these is doing something about a dull and discoloured smile.
Don’t waste money on whitening toothpastes
Understandably, given the amount of advertising time dedicated to them, a lot of people are likely to turn to the teeth whitening toothpastes that they see advertised on TV and online. We would advise against this if you are serious about having whiter teeth. The reality is that these toothpastes are only allowed to include a tiny fraction of the whitening ingredient that can be used in professional teeth whitening procedures such as the ones we have available at Mike Allen’s Dental Practice in Burton.
Whilst generally, most of these toothpastes are harmless, some do include additional abrasive elements. Whilst this might help to remove at least some surface staining of the teeth, they may, if used to excess, also erode the enamel which helps to protect our teeth from decay and tooth sensitivity. If you really want to see a significant improvement in the whiteness of your teeth, we recommend that you side-step these toothpastes and see our cosmetic dentists instead to have your teeth whitened.
Comfortable teeth whitening at home
Although we do, on occasions, use a chair side teeth whitening method, most of our Burton patients benefit from a treatment that allows them to whiten their teeth at home. This is very different to any ‘off the shelf’ home whitening solutions that you might see commercially available. Although you carry out much of this treatment at home, it is customised for you personally by our cosmetic dental team.
The first step is to have a consultation with you where we will examine your teeth and discuss with you what you want and hope to achieve. We will be honest and realistic with you but also work to provide you with the smile that you want. For some people this is the whitest smile that we can possibly achieve. For others, it is a more subtle improvement that allows them to feel more confident about their smile without attaining the brilliant whiteness that many of us will have seen in celebrities. There is no right or wrong and we will work with you for the outcome that you want.
The second step is to take impressions of your teeth. This is an important step for two reasons. Firstly, it ensures that the trays remain secured on your teeth and minimise the risk of the whitening ingredient coming into contact with your lips and gums as this can cause burning. Custom made trays also mean that they should be more comfortable to wear. This is important as you will need to wear them for a couple of hours or so each day.
Finally, you will be given a whitening gel and full instructions on how to apply this and how long for. Usually, you will start to see improvements by the end of the first week, with a superior level of whiteness around the end of week two. We are, of course, available should you have any queries during your course of treatment and we encourage you to contact us if you have any questions along the way.
This teeth whitening treatment is perfectly safe though we will discuss any health issues you might have before the treatment starts, just to be on the safe side. There are also few risks of side effects from this treatment. A small number of patients might experience a higher level of teeth sensitivity following the treatment, but this usually only lasts a short white before returning to normal.
A teeth whitening treatment can be carried out as a one off procedure; for example, you might want to have it done in time to look your best for your summer holiday, or you can have ‘top up’ whitening treatments on a regular basis so that you can maintain a consistent white smile.
With spring almost here, why not find out how we can help you have a whiter and more confident smile by calling Mike Allen’s Dental Practice on 01283 845345.