Articles, information and frequently asked questions about Tooth whitening with home and surgery teeth whitening systems

Sporting Smiles – The Whiter Smile

White teeth treatments

The smile is one of the first features that people notice about you. Your teeth are used for many functions including assisting your tongue in verbal communication, properly shredding food into safe portions for you to swallow, and attracting others to you. It makes sense that many want a white perfect smile with your teeth being so valuable to everyday life. There are a few at-home teeth whitening treatments that can help you achieve that bright smile you’ve always dreamed of. Let’s look at two of the most popular treatments and how they work. 

Teeth Whitening Lights: 

Using blue light paired with a whitening serum has become a mainstream way of whitening your teeth. This was performed at dentist offices for years before the technology came home. Make sure your teeth are properly cleaned before your treatments by brushing them. There are a few brands that offer teeth whitening lights but they typically all work the same way. 

The whitening gel serum is typically a bit stronger than other treatments. If you have sensitive teeth or gums, this form of teeth whitening may not be for you. Gentle brush the whitening serum onto the teeth you wish to have whitened making sure to avoid any contact with your gums. After your teeth are properly coated, use the blue light mouth guard that comes with your teeth whitening kit. This mouthguard may feel bulky but it should fit your mouth. Be careful not to smear the gel around your teeth and bite down onto the mouthguard to hold it in place. The blue light mouthguard will have a cord connected to it. This cord can be plugged into your phone to be powered making it mobile-friendly for you to continue your activities at home. 

You won’t be able to speak during this 10-15 minute process. Find an activity to do that doesn’t require much effort or sit back and text a friend while your teeth whitening light works. You need to be careful with teeth whitening lights as there are many brands out there. Counterfeits can be dangerous or useless. With improper use of the blue light or too much direct exposure, your gums can start to bleed. 

Teeth Whitening Lights are most preferred with the expertise of dentists but that can become costly. These treatments typically see the fastest results as patients can leave the dentist that day with noticeably whiter teeth. At-Home teeth whitening lights are effective and can turn your teeth into a bright white within a week. Teeth Whitening Lights can be fairly expensive and can cast anywhere from $130 – $210. Be careful as some patients have found that the mouthguards and cords are easy to break rendering the treatments useless. 

Custom Teeth Whitening Trays: 

Another popular at-home treatment for obtaining white teeth is custom teeth whitening trays. Customers will use an impression kit and take molds of their teeth to send them back to a dental lab. The dental techs will craft a custom teeth whitening tray that fits perfectly over the teeth and is unique to each smile. These whitening trays tend to be durable and can last for a few years. 

Users will inject a teeth whitening gel into the cups of the trays and pop the teeth whitening trays on. There are different types of whitening gels, but Sporting Smiles offers a gel formula that foams into the cracks and crevices of your teeth when activated by saliva. This benefit helps all teeth achieve a white surface, including the back of your teeth. 

Custom Teeth Whitening Trays are easy to communicate with and do not require any support. You’ll be able to speak or walk around your home continuing your daily activities. These treatments are completed in 10 to 20 minutes and results can come in as little as 7 to 10 days. Another benefit to this treatment is the cost. Custom Teeth Whitening Trays can cost as little as $70

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5 Ways A Dentist Can Help You Smile More!

Smiles are beautiful. It’s one of the most attractive aspects of one’s personality. It can make anyone look more inviting, warm and friendly.

 However, if you feel less confident while smiling because of discolored or crooked teeth and would rather cover your mouth while smiling or laughing, you are not alone. According to a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health on the impact of dental esthetics on self-confidence, approximately a quarter of the participants felt insecure while smiling and covered their teeth every time they smiled.   

So is there a way to feel more confident about your smile and have a set of pearly whites to show off?

Of course!

This article explains 5 ways through which dentists can help you smile more. Keep reading to find out!

  1. Whitening 

Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dentistry procedure aimed to reduce stains and discoloration from the teeth to make them appear whiter and healthier. A dentist can conduct this procedure in their clinic or prescribe the patient a take-home kit for an at-home whitening procedure. 

Whitening usually involves treating the surface of the teeth with bleaching agents to get rid of the stains and discoloration. Your dentist will first perform a dental examination to ensure whether whitening is appropriate for you.

  1. Veneers  

Veneers are porcelain or resin shells that serve as restorations for the teeth. They cover the surface of the teeth and help in correcting small gaps, cracks or chips, crooked teeth or discolorations. Your dentist can recommend you veneers as an alternative to teeth whitening and if you want to alter the shape of your teeth as well. Moreover, your dentist will select the material of the veneer according to the color of your natural teeth. 

However, this is for minor cracks or crookedness. For more serious conditions, your dentist may recommend you avail orthodontic treatment. 

  1. Orthodontics 

Orthodontics involve the use of braces or aligners to help in correcting misaligned teeth or jaws. This treatment can have a significant impact on a person’s self-esteem as it makes the teeth appear straighter. Moreover, people who don’t want to get the very noticeable metal braces can get clear aligners. 

Your dentist will decide the treatment length based on your particular case and the aligners you select. In this regard, treatment may take anywhere from a few months to a few years. 

  1. Crowns 

A crown is a dental cap made out of ceramic or porcelain to completely cap a tooth usually following a root canal treatment or other dental surgery procedures. Crowns are also used for covering severely damaged, discolored or crooked teeth. Your dentist will color match the crown to the rest of your teeth for a more natural-looking finish. Usually, it’ll take you a couple of visits down to your dental clinic to get a crown; however, your dentist can also offer you same-day crowns. 

  1. Bridges 

Bridges are false teeth that are fitted between two crowns and are used for replacing missing teeth. Your dentist will first examine and prepare the teeth at either side of the gap to put crowns and cement the bridge between them. 

Like other options, your dentist will examine your mouth and evaluate if you need bridges or not. While these are temporary options for lost tooth, they are suitable if the teeth near the gap already have crowns or fillings. 

Author Bio

Sophie Taylor is an avid reader and writer. She loves to write about different topics – ranging from business development to crafting tips, healthcare and elderly care.

If you want to enhance your pearly whites to have the perfect smile, get in touch with Blackburn Dental Centre for a dentist in Orleans. The dental team at the clinic will conduct a thorough examination of your mouth and jaws to determine what kind of treatment will be best for you and begin your treatment plan accordingly. Get in touch today for personalized treatment and compassionate care.  

How To Lower Your Biological Age With Cosmetic Dentistry

Aging comes with plenty of changes to our hormone levels, our bodies, and yes, our teeth. Especially in women, it can drastically impact the look of your smile. For instance, calcium depletion can cause considerable changes to your overall oral health.

From staining to crowding, and even losing teeth, your smile ages you as much as the condition of your skin. And with all the changes that come with age, including dry mouth, tooth decay, and gum disease, there are real health benefits to cosmetic dentistry. Not only can it help you keep your smile and your confidence, but it will help you look younger, and can even help against gum disease, a weakened chin, and help you avoid other problems as you age.

Protect Against Staining With Cosmetic Whitening

One of the most significant indicators of the age of your teeth is color and staining. Acidic degradation of tooth enamel can leave your teeth with discoloration and stains. You can sometimes see the enamel wearing away on your teeth as greyish, as it wears away the white and reveals your tooth as more translucent.

Whitening or bleaching can help you keep the white shine to your teeth. There are several whitening options available, from drug store simple to more complicated dental whitening you can talk to your dentist about. Over-the-counter whiteners work perfectly fine if you’ve already got healthy teeth and gums.

If you’ve got a lot of visible fillings, or your gums aren’t in great shape, consider checking with your dentist before deciding what type of whitener you should be using. Another option is to stick with whitening toothpaste. These use whitening agents directly in your toothpaste, and work to bleach your teeth a small amount day by day, and might be easier to fit into your schedule than a monthly, or bi-monthly whitening treatment.

Try Veneers to Fix Chips and Cracks

Chips and cracks don’t just change the look of your smile. They also weaken tooth enamel and the overall structure of the tooth, leading to deeper cracks or breaks later on. Even if the chips or cracks aren’t big or deep enough to cause pain now, there’s no guarantee that the wear and tear of the years won’t cause problems later.

Veneers are a fantastic way to change the shape, color, and overall look of your smile. They are generally made of porcelain. They are made to match the color of your original teeth (but you can add a few shades whiter if you need to.) Unlike whitening, they don’t require upkeep to stay white, though you should consult with a dentist on how to properly take care of and protect veneers. You should not use over-the-counter whitening strips or treatments if you have veneers.

Crowns Can Help You Fix Broken or Vulnerable Teeth

If you want to keep your teeth as you age, sometimes, your best bet is a crown. Though they’re more expensive than veneers, they are an excellent way to give your troubled teeth new life. Crowns are perfect for teeth that have been severely broken or cracked, or if you’ve needed any root canals. The crown replaces the surface of your tooth, to protect it from further damage. Like veneers, it is designed to maintain the shape and color of your natural tooth.

Crowns are also a good idea if you have a habit of grinding your teeth. Veneers are primarily cosmetic, and designed to fit on the front of your teeth. Crowns can be installed along the edge of your tooth, protecting you from further cracks or wearing.

Watch Your Gumline

As we age, the collagen in our skin and hair can thin. This can cause wrinkles and grey hairs. But it’s not the only place we need to worry about. Our gumline is also full of collagen. As we age, the depletion of collagen can cause your teeth to look longer, and keep you looking older. Years of aggressive brushing, or gum disease and tartar buildup can also wear away at your gumline. As well as aging your smile, it also exposes the root of the tooth, which can cause a lot of pain, and may eventually require a root canal.

Brushing less aggressively can help, so switch to an electric toothbrush. Dentists can also offer surgical options, with gum grafting surgery to lower your receding gums and keep your smile looking young.

Consider Getting Braces

Photo by i love simple beyond from Pexels

Even if you avoided braces as an awkward adolescent, you might find you need them more as you age. The bad news is that as you age, your teeth and jawline, and even your chin, can start to fall inward. That means even if you had work done, it could begin to collapse.

The good news is, if your teeth are healthy, there’s no age limit to straightening them. Orthodontics can have a massive impact on the look of your smile, no matter your age. It’s a long-term investment, and more complicated than crowning or veneers. But crowns and veneers only last 10-25 years, depending on the material, and your dentist. Braces come in a variety of types and styles, and the effects can last much longer. Just be sure to do your research, so you know what you’re getting into before you make a long-term decision.

Smile More!

If you really want your smile to convey a younger-looking you? The trick is to smile more often! A confident, open expression looks more youthful than a closed off one. Though the research on smiling and wrinkles seem inconclusive, it does suggest that most people find a smile to make you more attractive. Which is sure to make you feel more youthful and confident!

Your smile says a lot about you. But is it aging you? As we get older, everything from a loss of collagen, to a loss of confidence can impact our smile. To look and feel younger, cosmetic dentistry may provide the answer. Whether your teeth are stained from years of strong coffee, or you’re literally feeling long in the tooth, there is a solution to get you the brighter, younger-looking grin that will keep you feeling as radiant and youthful as ever.

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cover photo by Photo by i love simple beyond from Pexels

Whiten Your Teeth Naturally: Most Common and Easy Methods

Image Credit: Image Majestic @ Freedigitalphotos.net

This is a guest blog post.

The Admin Team

You cannot flash your megawatt smile because of your teeth discoloration. Very uncomfortable and embarrassing. Right?

Teeth, certainly are one of the first things people notice. Your teeth are a sign of your health as well as confidence. When making a first impression having teeth that look like you don’t brush them with your best electric toothbrush can send a signal that you don’t really care about yourself.

Bright, yellow-free teeth have been one of the most universally aspirational ideals for ages. Are you 100% satisfied with your smile? If not, you should know the secret tricks of how to whiten your teeth naturally.

The good news is, several distinct factors lead to discoloration, and ruling them out early can keep your teeth brilliant for a long time. Here are the most common and effective methods that can whiten your teeth fast.

  1. Avoid Stain Causers

It might be known that red wine and coffee stain teeth, but they’re certainly not the only culprits that can leave your teeth looking less than stellar. There are lots of other foods and drinks that can stain your teeth, including:

  • white wine
  • blackberries
  • blueberries
  • pomegranates
  • soda
  • barbecue sauce
  • black tea
  • green tea
  • sugary treats
  • curry    
  • marinara
  • paprika
  • turmeric
  • balsamic vinegar

All of these foods or drinks cause or contribute to extrinsic stains. The good news is that extrinsic stains can usually be removed or at least improved. Your dentist will be able to help with this.

  1. Consume Useful Foods

There are foods that can brighten your teeth naturally. Allow you to fight stains and improve your overall oral health by munching on the following:

Apple: Apple improves your gum fitness and stimulates saliva production, which helps to rinse away stains.

Cheese, milk, and yogurt: All of these rich in calcium helps to strengthen teeth enamel and appearance.

Celery, nuts, broccoli, and carrots: The abrasive and coarse abrasive texture of these meals scrubs off stains.

Raw onions: The sulfur located in raw onions stops plaque from forming.

Strawberries: An enzyme called malic acid found in strawberries which naturally removes surface stains lurking on your teeth.

  1. Invest in an Electric Toothbrush

Thanks to their vibrating heads, the bristles of an electric toothbrush move faster than an ordinary manual toothbrush. Therefore, it is better at removing plaque and brushing experience compared to an ordinary toothbrush. You do not need to move with an electric toothbrush just guide it effortlessly around your mouth. The quality electric toothbrushes make it easy to get a better result, cleaner whiter teeth.

  1. Don’t Smoke

In addition to all the dangerous side consequences of smoking, it the tar and tobacco determined in nicotine rapidly yellows people who smoke’ teeth. So, if for no different reason than conceitedness, do your-self a favor and forestall lighting up. Not only your teeth look better besides your heart, breath, and lungs will be healthier.Use Apple Cider Vinegar

  1. Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal is one of the most inexpensive ways to naturally whiten your teeth. Many people brush with activated charcoal, but dentists recommend that you use it as a mask rather than a toothpaste. It’s just effective and safer to create a charcoal paste. Make the paste by mixing together half and a tablespoon of activated charcoal with just enough water to make it paste-like. Apply it to your teeth, let it sit for three minutes, and then rinse it away.

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My Crooked Teeth Look dark!

James Arthur X factor teeth

One of the common concerns with people that have crooked teeth is the fact that they think the teeth are dark.

Here is a photograph of James Arthur, the recent winner of X factor in 2012. Since winning the show he has commented in the national press about the fact that he wants to have his teeth straightened. Here is a photograph showing him with his crooked teeth, notice how the second tooth on the left-hand side of the photograph (James is right hand side) looks darker due to the fact that the front tooth is rotated.

Many people go to the dentist asking for teeth whitening because they see this dark tooth, however the reason is that it is in shadow caused by the rotated front teeth.

Shadows very often create dark areas on teeth and in fact teeth whitening is not the solution, having straighter teeth is!

Generally speaking straightening teeth nowadays is a fairly simple process with either invisible braces or fixed tooth coloured braces. These treatment options are certain to help your crooked teeth look white again.

Very often though, after treatment, teeth whitening is also offered to finally make your new straight teeth look really white. You may find that your dental practice offers free teeth whitening with any orthodontic treatment, although this is not always the case.

If you’re looking for a dentist to help you with your crooked teeth then the best way to find them is to go to the search engines, most commonly Google, and do a search for the following terms:

  1. ‘Six month smiles < <your geographical location>>’
  2. ‘Invisalign < <your geographical location>>’
  3. ‘Inman aligner< <your geographical location>>’
  4. ‘invisible braces< <your geographical location>>’
  5. ‘ceramic braces < <your geographical location>>’
  6. ‘lingual braces < <your geographical location>>’

By doing this type of Google search and adding your geographical location will allow you to find a dentist in the local area who can provide for you one of these orthodontic options.

Which Cosmetic Dental Option is Right for You?

Cosmetic dentistry is moving fast in the UK, yet the basic problems it solves is the same as it has always been.

There are 3 basic classifications for people that want cosmetic dentistry, people with:

  1. Crooked, Twisted, Rotated Teeth
  2. Mis-Shapen Teeth
  3. Dark Teeth

So, let’s look at some of the options:

Crooked Teeth

The most basic treatment for this is orthodontics, so if you are happy with the tooth shape itself, then your dentist can move your teeth to a new position using one of the orthodontic options listed here.

Mis-Shapen Teeth

If you don’t like the shape of your tooth then your dentist can use either crowns or veneers. Veneers cover only the front of the tooth, while crowns cover the whole of your tooth. Dental veneers/crowns can be used to correct not only the mis-shapen tooth, but also straighten them and lighten them at the same time.

Dark Teeth

The simplest option is to lighten teeth using tooth whitening. If you are happy with the basic position and shape of your teeth then this option may be best. Tooth whitening is also often used after orthodontics to really brighten up your smile.

The recommendation of dentists seems to be the at the best thing is to tell your dentist what your concerns are and what you like/dislike about your smile then let your dentist decide on the best treatment option for your depending on your ideal smile and your budget.

What are the benefits of one hour tooth whitening?

When we discuss about tooth lightening we are really discussing laser, zoom or power lightening as it more generally known.

In the last five to seven years whitening your pearly whites has become very popular as it is so simple and has a high success associated with it.

Previously the only other option was home tooth whitening which have more some difficulties connected to them. These difficulties include having to rest while wearing the pre-made whitening trays for between ten and fourteen successive nighst. Now having something in your mouth for this period can be unpleasant and also has the potential to damage your nights sleep!

Another realistic factor with the whitening trays may be the build-up of dental sensitivity which builds up over a period of time sue the length of time that you need to wear the trays for.

Now when something like this sensitivity happens you are likely to stop using the trays and this could be only six to seven times in to the program meaning the lightening benefit can be somewhat reduced.
Lastly with any lightening you need to be very regimented about what you eat. This implies stopping things like coffee, tea, red wine, smoking (if you smoke!) and just about anything that could easily re-stain your new pearly whites.
With One Hour Tooth Whitening it does what is says on the tin and whitens your teeth in around an hour. Simple.

Now you can still get sensitivity with one hour lightening but it is unlikely to impact the result of the treatment and therefore the teeth will still go white with only mild sensitivity for a few days afterwards

Many individuals however do not get any pain or sensitivity.

Due to the facts above one hour whitening is attractive as it allows you to simply turn up, then leave an hour later with stunning white teeth – a very attractive proposition for many people.
Whitening improves self assurance and can help to make you look youthful in age.

The procedure is similar to many other systems of lightening but the lighting or lamp will apply heat in to the lightening gel which eliminates the dark spots in no time. This lighting or table lamp along with the gel works to remove the dark areas of your teeth and whitening them considerably. Once dark areas are eliminated the enamel shows the lighting easier and this then creates the overall white look.
In the future it may that technology is likely to bring down the time required further but currently the one hour option is very good for an awesome difference.

Expertly Monitored Home Tooth Whitening

Expertly Monitored Home Tooth Whitening

There is a lot more to effective teeth lightening than you might think. For example if you want a great look is it really the right thing for you?

While your teeth will get bright, any caps or fillings will not !!. Are your teeth twisted, filled or gappy and does it matter to you?

Your dentist will determine your suitabilty, If you have dental oral cavaties or damaged fillngs these must be treated before lightening can begin. If you normally have delicate painful teeth then this must be resolved too.

Your dentist will currently use professionally supervised, home tooth bleaching methods, matched up to your needs. Dentists believe this gives higher control over the amount of lightening based on what you would like to achieve.

This is how it works:

First visit to the dentist – Your teeth and mouth are checked for the suitability for whitening.

The process with its advantages and disadvantages is properly shared with you and your approval is acquired. Your concerns will be resolved..

The start out color and your preferred result is registered and electronic images taken.

Moulds of your teeth will be taken in order to contruct smooth secure and perfectly suitable gel whitening containers or ‘trays’.

Visit 2 – Your teeth lightening begins

Your custom-made versatile gel containers are tested for a perfect fit.

Your teeth will be cleaned with our professional cleansers and a relatively powerful gel is used in your containers, as recommended by your dental professional.

You will be offered with a supply of the appropriate type of gel for your scenario and shown how to use it.

The containers (trays) are presented with a useful case.
Visits 3 and 4 – Evaluation of your new bright teeth!

Your dentist takes a look at the success and offers guidance as needed until you reach the bright look you desire.