Teeth Whitening In Calgary

To get the most out of your teeth whitening appointment, we strongly recommend you use Sensodyne or Colgate Sensitive toothpaste when brushing your teeth. This will help alleviate any tooth sensitivity following the appointment. Also, you may use these kinds of toothpaste as a topical application for particularly sensitive areas — simply apply with your finger and Do NOT rinse after application.

We also encourage patients to avoid consuming the following foods and beverages for the first 24 hours after their whitening appointment:

• Red wine
• Dark cola
• Coffee
• Tea
• Red sauces
• Mustard
• Ketchup
• Soy sauce
• A-1 sauce
• Tobacco products

Teeth discolorations can be of two kinds:

1. Intrinsic stains reach through the enamel and affect the lower dentine. For example, pregnant women consuming antibiotic medicines can deliver babies that grow stained teeth. You could also develop white spots on your teeth if you have been exposed to fluoride as a child.
2. Extrinsic stains are discolorations that affect only the enamel and can be removed to some extent. For most, this kind of colouring happens because of lifestyle habits like smoking. That’s because tobacco has the effect of rapid formation of plaque and tartar on the teeth. Drinking excessive tea and coffee can also cause staining.

Getting rid of extrinsic stains is possible up to a certain extent. However, removing intrinsic stains may not be that easy. Contact us for more information about the best solution possible.

Not all patients need to opt for elaborate methods of dental stain removal, but natural remedies don’t always solve the entire problem.

Your dentist may suggest that you adopt lifestyle changes as a good start. For instance:

1. Make sure that you prevent the accumulation of plaque and tartar — brush and floss at least twice a day
2. Change your regular toothpaste and look for whitening dental products. Regular products may only remove surface stains and help maintain the health of your mouth, teeth, and gums. Whitening dental products penetrate deeper to remove stains and are more effective. Silica is an important content is these pastes that scrub the stains from the surface enamel
3. Chew gum after your meals, some gums claim to whiten your teeth
4. Ask your oral care practitioner for recommendations for a stain removing mouthwash
5. Teeth whitening strips, pens, and trays can also help
6. If you smoke, getting a more radiant smile could be a good excuse to kick the habit. Chewing tobacco can also cause unwanted discolorations
7. Change your nighttime routine to include proper brushing and flossing. Allowing food to remain in contact with your teeth all through the night can add to the staining
8. You can also avoid consuming specific foods and beverages that are known to cause dental discolourations
9. Eat foods that have natural cleaning properties. Some good examples are cucumbers, cauliflower, carrots, and celery. Fruits like apples and pears are also great for your teeth
10. Consuming acidic foods can weaken the enamel and result in damage. If you’ve just eaten them, it is advisable to wait for at least 30 minutes before brushing your teeth

It is important to understand that while dental whitening is a common cosmetic dentistry procedure, not everyone can safely get teeth whitening. When you schedule an appointment with the oral care practitioner at our Calgary clinic, she’ll ask you a series of questions. A thorough examination will also reveal the extent of the damage. Accordingly, the dentist will come up with a treatment program that works best for you. For instance:

• If you’re aged 18 years and younger, the dentist may recommend that you wait. That’s because, at this age, the enamel is highly porous and the teeth have more dental pulp. Using chemicals can do more harm than good since they can cause tooth sensitivity and irritate the pulp.
• Some patients don’t tolerate bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide very well. If your tissues are sensitive, it is advisable that you go for alternatives like carbamide peroxide that is not as strong as hydrogen peroxide. This kind of dental whitening is easily done at home. You’ll pour the liquid into bleaching trays and wear them for the recommended time.
• In case you have intrinsic staining, conventional whitening procedures may not be for you. The dentist might suggest that you opt for treatments that will conceal the damage instead of repairing it. If bleaching agents don’t work, you might have to go for dental crowns or veneers.
• Dentists typically advise pregnant and lactating patients to delay getting any non-essential dental treatment.
• Oftentimes, patients are allergic to hydrogen peroxide and cannot get professional dental whitening. If you’re not sure that you could have an allergic reaction, the oral practitioner will likely conduct a test and suggest alternatives.