Your Teeth Whitening Questions, Answered.

At Gentle Dental Associates, we are always trying to help our patients build a brighter future for their smiles. One way we do this is by offering several teeth whitening treatments at our office. To help you investigate all of the teeth whitening options, we have decided to answer some of the most common questions we receive about teeth whitening.

Q: What is the difference between in-office whitening, take-home whitening kits, and over-the-counter products?

A: In office whitening whitens your teeth instantly with significant results about 98% of the time. Take-home whitening will give you the same results, but takes about two weeks to start to see the results, and you are in control of your results; the more aggressive (how often you choose to do it) you are with it the better results. The over-the-counter products seem to give you a result but not as significant as the professional product due to the strength of the whitening gel and the fit of the tray is not custom like the professional tray.

Q: Do whitening toothpastes really make a difference?

A: Whitening tooth pastes tend to lift stains, but don’t really whiten your teeth.

Q: How do I get my teeth whiter without them looking unnatural?

A: To get your teeth whiter without looking unnatural we would recommend the take-home whitening kit because you can control your results (you can stop when desired shade is reached).

Q: Can I use whitening products on my teeth while receiving orthodontic treatment?

A: No you cannot use whitening gels while being treated for orthodontics because the gel will not whiten and cannot reach under brackets, custom trays will not fit either, unless you are using Invisalign aligner trays.

Q: Can I use whitening products on my dentures?

A: Dentures are made of acrylic which will not whiten. In order to have a whiter shade of denture, you will have to have the denture reset with new teeth.

Q: What is the best over-the-counter whitening product?

A: The best over-the-counter whitening product tends to be crest white strips; we have seen a lot of our patients get results from them, yet not as good results as the professional kind.

Q: After I’ve received in-office teeth bleaching, what’s the best way to maintain my bright smile?

A: After you have received in-office whitening the best way to maintain your bright smile is to try to avoid staining substances in your diet (i.e. coffee, tea, pop, red wine, and smoking) and use your touch-up kit at home to whiten some more when you see your teeth start to fade back.

Q: What foods and beverages will discolor my teeth? Which foods and beverages taste good but won’t discolor my teeth?

A: Pretty much any food and beverage that has color or dye will stain your teeth (anything that stains your white shirt will stain your teeth.) Coffee, tea, pop, red wine, and smoking tend to stain the worst. Any food or beverage that is clear will not stain your teeth.

Q: Is tooth discoloration genetic?

A: Tooth discoloration is very minimally genetic. If your mother took antibiotics while pregnant with you, it could discolor your teeth or if you took antibiotics at a very young age you could have tooth discoloration. Most tooth discoloration comes from your diet and oral hygiene.

For more information about teeth whitening treatment at Gentle Dental Associates, visit our website or give our office a call.