Teeth Whitening Options and Their Effectiveness

Stained teeth are common due to the nature of dental enamel. Although enamel is extremely strong, it is also porous. This allows stain-causing substances to penetrate the enamel and discolor the underlying structure of the tooth. Unfortunately, these stains can make you look older and may cause you to feel self-conscious about wanting to hide your smile altogether. Luckily, our cosmetic dentist in Northridge can help.

Several options are available for tackling stained teeth, including:

• Whitening toothpaste
These toothpastes contain abrasive ingredients that buff away superficial stains. While they can brighten your smile almost as much as a professional cleaning, they will not change the actual color of your teeth.

• Whitening rinses
Whitening rinses usually contain peroxide or other bleaching ingredients, but they do not stay on the teeth long enough to significantly whiten them.

• Whitening strips
These strips contain peroxide and are designed to adhere to your teeth to maximize contact. They can whiten your teeth a few shades, but they are rarely effective for more significant whitening.

• Professional whitening
These treatments use prescription-strength whitening ingredients that are combined and then placed using a custom-fit mouth tray. They can lighten teeth significantly over the course of treatment.

• In-office whitening
As the fastest whitening treatment available, in-office whitening can dramatically brighten your smile in about an hour to complete.

Call us today to learn more or to schedule an appointment with our expert in teeth whitening in Northridge.