4 Tips to Maintain White Teeth This Summer

Summer is a time for smiles. Whether you’re visiting friends and relatives, hosting a barbecue in your backyard, or dancing at a friend’s wedding, it’s important to have a smile that makes you feel confident. Your dentist in Gilbert, AZ, can help! By keeping your teeth clean and by seeking professional whitening services, you can enjoy white teeth throughout the summer.

1. Get your teeth professionally cleaned on schedule.

Most dentists recommend that their patients get their teeth cleaned every six months. If you haven’t been to the dentist in the last six months, it’s time. Get your teeth professionally cleaned to remove plaque and tartar that can cause stains and discolorations.

2. Have your teeth whitened.

Professional teeth whitening in Gilbert, AZ, can turn your teeth many shades whiter and can keep your teeth that way for a while. Professional teeth whitening is a great way to make your smile sparkle.

3. Maintain good oral hygiene at home.

Of course, you can’t have white teeth if you’re not cleaning your teeth effectively at home. Brush your teeth twice daily and floss once daily. Don’t forget to replace your toothbrush every three months. Also, get a tutorial from your dentist on brushing and flossing next time you’re at the dentist’s office to ensure that you’re doing it correctly.

4. Stay hydrated.

Summer is a time when it’s hard to stay hydrated. Drink enough water to keep your mouth sufficiently wet with saliva. Saliva helps keep your teeth clean and washes away bacteria that can lead to staining and bad breath.

Is it time for you to schedule an appointment with the dentist? Call Kathy Jacobsen Contemporary Dentistry today.

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How Many Sessions of Teeth Whitening Will I Need?

When you think about how many years the stains on your teeth have spent accumulating, it would be easy to think that getting rid of all the red wine, nicotine, coffee, etc. would take some time. You might think that you need multiple sessions over the course of months before you even start to see a difference. The good news is that professional teeth whitening is an efficient process that can make your teeth multiple shades whiter.

How Teeth Become Stained

If you’re looking for teeth whitening services in Gilbert, AZ, it might be because you see quite a bit of build-up on your teeth. In fact, anything that would stain a white shirt can stain your teeth, regardless of whether it’s red pasta sauce or orange soda. (Drinking through a straw can help, but it’s not a cure-all.) Home whitening kits may be able to lighten your teeth a little, but only a professional can give you the big, bright smile that you’re craving.

What You Need to Know About the Process

When you come into the office for your appointment, a qualified dentist in Gilbert, AZ will actually tackle the bonds on the teeth that create the stains. You should only need one session to see dramatic differences, though it’s important to remember that not everyone will have the same results. Teeth whitening will depend on everything from the types of stains on your teeth to your very genetics.

Find a Dentist in Gilbert, AZ

University Family Dental has seen how stains can accumulate over time. It may not be a dental emergency, but it is something that can affect patients nonetheless. If you’ve been hesitant to smile because you’ve noticed that your teeth are taking on a yellow hue, it’s worth scheduling a session.

Most people think of staining as largely cosmetic, but this is not always true. In some cases, there might be internal reasons for the stains, such as trauma, that will need to be taken care of. If you want to learn more about what it will take to lighten your teeth and what type of techniques will be used, contact us to learn more about the treatment.

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In-Office Teeth Whitening: Patient FAQs

Are you self-conscious about the shade of your teeth? Thankfully, in-office teeth whitening in Gilbert, AZ is easy to find and highly effective. While in-office whitening has grown increasingly common as a cosmetic dental procedure, many patients still have questions. Take a look at a few of the most common patient FAQs about getting your teeth whitened by a dentist.

How quickly will I see results?

The true advantage of in-office teeth whitening is you see the results immediately. Even with professionally-provided home whitening kits, you won’t see the full whitening results for around 10 to 14 days. You simply visit the office for your treatment, which takes about 90 minutes in total, and walk away with a whiter, brighter smile.

Will in-office whitening make my teeth more sensitive?

You may experience some mild sensitivity immediately after your appointment and potentially during the few days following your appointment. However, these changes in sensitivity to hot or cold will go away soon after treatment and are not a sign that anything is wrong.

Can you get your teeth whitened if you’ve had dental work performed?

If you have dental fillings, crowns, or other dental work in the teeth that are visible when you smile, teeth whitening may not work the same on these areas. Before your treatment, the dentist will discuss how a whitening procedure could affect these areas. In some cases, dental work may need to be mended to prevent irregularities in tooth shades. For example, a composite filling is tinted to be the natural color of your teeth when installed, but may not respond to in-office whitening the same. Therefore, the filling may have to be replaced.

Looking for a dentist in Gilbert, AZ for teeth whitening? Reach out to us at the office of Kathy Jacobsen Contemporary Dentistry to schedule an appointment.