Brilliant Smiles With Professional Teeth Whitening in Eden Prairie, MN

Choose our Award Winning Practice for your Cosmetic Dental Needs

Teeth Whitening

Your teeth can be whitened. Over time you may not notice the gradual discoloration. There are several methods to accomplish teeth whitening. We’ll first identify what causes the staining of your teeth and the composition and makeup of your teeth that allows this to happen. We’ll list the various procedures you can participate in to whiten your teeth, either at home or by our Doctors. We’ll explain the benefits in teeth whitening and then finally the habits you may have to change or the efforts you may need to take to keep your teeth white.

Need more advanced restorative dental options? Inquire about dental crowns at an appointment today. 

Call Smile Eden Prairie (952) 941-9829

Smile Eden Prairie practitioners are thorough, compassionate dentists treating patients in Eden Prairie and the surrounding communities. Their primary goal as a practitioner is to help people achieve optimal oral health outcomes.

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Causes of Teeth Discoloration

The outside layer of your teeth is called enamel. The actual color of your natural teeth is created by the reflection and bouncing of light off of your enamel. This is combined with the color of the dentin, which is the next layer below the enamel. Our genetic differences change the thickness and smoothness of the enamel. The two variables change the reflection techniques and the amount of dentin visible. The enamel is porous and a very thin coating forms on the enamel every day called pellicle. Both of these elements allow for the staining of your teeth. Different acids can attack the enamel surface. Some items that enter your mouth will stain more so than others. First and foremost is that of using tobacco. If you chew or smoke this is yet another good reason consider quitting. Secondly, if you drink dark colored liquids such as colas and tea they will discolor. That cup of coffee in the morning or that glass of red wine at night with accelerate staining. Dark berries may be an antioxidant but will stain your teeth. So will too much tomato sauce. Aging is something we all must deal with as the enamel naturally gets thinner. Another factor that is not realizing until sometime later is that of certain medications and how they can affect you. Possibly something prescribed as a child will have a negative effect on your enamel. Finally, if you have poor oral hygiene habits and don’t take care for your teeth they will become yellow with stain.

Teeth Whitening Methods

We’ll start at the bottom and work our way up to top with the best results. First, all toothpastes do indeed whiten to some degree because of the abrasive agent they all have. Brushing your teeth twice a day is a good start. The next option at home are whitening strips. Your third option at home is the application of a gel. With the strips and the gel the primary difference is the amount of the bleaching agent present in the over the counter product. Professional gels can carry three times as much of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide which are the best bleaching agents to whiten the enamel. These at home methods will take days at a minimum and even up to months. Your best results will be delivered by an appointment with your dentist. Our Doctors will deliver outstanding teeth whitening results in as little as one to three visits. Going back to the beginning, for a long term effect, you might want to consider your diet and what might be changed if there are staining contributors.

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Professional Teeth Whitening

The first step when you visit your dentist is to identify what the current shade of your teeth is and then together you decide what shade you would like to improve them to. The simple scale will give the dentist a starting and finishing point. A picture will be taken then to document that starting point. Your teeth will then be cleaned as well so the bleaching agent will be more effective interacting with the enamel. A thorough exam will see if there are any other contributing factors that might affect the results of your teeth whitening efforts. In a dental office the dentist will paint a gel on your gums to protect your gum line from the bleaching agent. When allowed to brush on a gel with a much higher concentrate of hydrogen peroxide you will see immediate results. You may achieve your goal in as little as one visit or it may take three, but either way you will have a professional giving you professional teeth whitening results. A compromise approach is to have our Doctors make impressions of both upper and lower teeth and provide you with trays. They can also give you a professional gel, again much stronger than the over the counter variety, and you can have a blended solution. Professionally administered and monitored but you do the majority of the teeth whitening at home. The dentist will also be able to monitor if you experience any sensitivity through the teeth whitening experience.

Teeth Whitening Benefits

The primary benefit is to restore your teeth back to their true natural color. There is no real way to quantify and put a value on your smile. It is one of your primary assets. A nice smile delivers self-confidence and self-esteem that is difficult to measure. Once you have your teeth whitening completed it is not a permanent improvement. If you have not changed any contributing factors the staining will start all over again. If you watch your diet and follow the industry guidelines of brushing your teeth well twice a day and introduce flossing between your teeth once a day a mild teeth whitening touch up might be suggested in 12 months. There are very little side effects to be concerned about when considering teeth whitening. You might experience some sensitivity briefly after the procedure. The benefits far outweigh any negative outcomes. Only you can look in the mirror and determine what your smile is worth. A visit to the dental office for a consultation is a good starting point. Once you see the shade scale and where you can improve your smile to it might make it easier to make your decision about teeth whitening. There is nothing like a smile lighting up any situation. Let it be yours!

Contact Smile Eden Prairie

Having a tooth whitening procedure can significantly impact and improve the lives of those with damaged or discolored teeth. Scheduling an appointment for tooth whitening is the first step towards being confident in your smile once again. We are here to help you begin your journey towards the perfect smile! Please contact us to set up an appointment for teeth whitening at (952) 941-9829. At Smile Eden Prairie, we are passionate about your smile and committed to providing you with the quality care you need!