Teeth Whitening Edmonton

Usually our whitening treatments last you for years to come, with a touch up here and there; but the exact situation depends upon your teeth condition and may vary from person to person.

The whitening procedure can improve and brighten the teeth by 8-12 shades, but external issues like original color of the teeth, the type of stains, age of the individual, the amount and kind of restorations all play a role in deciding how well the whitening process will work.

Depending upon your specific situation, we may ask you to either come down to our Edmonton office for a 2nd session or simply do some additional bleaching at home as a touch up.

For best results, please avoid all possible teeth staining culprits for at least 48 hours after the treatment.

It doesn’t. Any existing treatment of your teeth like RCT, veneers, crowns, dental bridges, fillings etc. are not affected by the whitening process. This is because the gel works best on natural teeth enamel.

It is likely that after teeth whitening, the restored teeth might not be as white as the newly treated ones. In that case, you could opt for replacing your restorations if you want consistent whiteness in your teeth. But whether or not that is perfect for you, can be determined only after examining you in a pre-whitening appointment.

An important aspect that affects teeth whitening is age. The core of the teeth is made of a yellowish material called dentin. This dentin is protected with the shiny white layer of natural enamel.

With age, the natural enamel continues to strip off and the dentin slowly starts becoming visible. This gradual process is aggravated by our daily activities that contribute to the wear and tear. For example, the simple task of chewing food will cause microscopic cracks all across the enamel which will then help in the build-up of debris and stains.

Additionally, some medicines contain elements that strip the natural enamel or add to the discoloration of teeth.

Staining foods and poor dental hygiene are the leading factors that cause discolored teeth. Some of the foods that can cause staining are:

• Tea and coffee
• Wine (both white and red)
• Sodas
• Berries (think fruit, juices, jams and jelly, pies etc.)
• Tobacco
• Dark leafy green (excessive consumption cases)
• Pasta sauces
• Bright coloured candies and popsicles

Regular dental cleaning and whitening can help you have great looking teeth. A few good practises can help.

• Limit your intake of stain causing foods (mentioned above). Try brushing as soon as possible after you consume these.
• Maintain dental hygiene including good oral hygiene.
• Never miss your dental appointments. See a dentist at least once in 6 months.
• Reduce consumption of foods that are strongly acidic in nature. To do this correctly, be aware of the food compositions. In this case, lemon is often cited as a common culprit but people don’t realise that the tasty balsamic vinegar that they are loading up on in their salads should equally share the blame.
• Avoid tobacco and caffeine as much as possible. They are not only bad for your teeth, they are also bad for your health.
• Try using protection while playing contact sports like rugby, baseball etc. where there may be a high chance of teeth injury.

You could introduce the following in your diet:

• High fibre fruits – they help in 2 ways. First, they increase the saliva flow which acts as a natural cleanser. And 2nd, since these fruits have high fibrous content, one may see them as natural brushes that scrub the surface of your teeth.
• Strawberry – turns out that not all berries are bad for your teeth! The malic acid in strawberry helps give you a whiter smile. However, it doesn’t penetrate the enamel so the results may not be long lasting.
• Cheese – This is a good news for all cheese lovers! Cheese boosts the pH levels in our mouth which leads to good bacteria fighting away the cavities.
• Nuts – high in fibre and high in protein makes them a power packed combo. They not only strengthen your teeth, but also help keep the mouth clean.
• Water – This is obviously a no brainer. Water flushes the remnants of food from your mouth and keeps your teeth and gums healthy. Swishing water and spitting it out in case you don’t have access to a toothbrush is a good habit too.