Do you hide your teeth when someone wants to take a selfie? Do your tagged photos make you flinch when you look at your smile (or lack thereof)? Well, you’re not alone.
You probably have seen commercials promising whiter teeth and a brighter smile. There are many options that exist in the toothpaste aisle, but unfortunately, they don’t usually work as effectively the ads promise. Maybe you’ve even tried some of these products yourself with frustratingly little results.
So, the big question remains, why don’t they work?
Stain Removal Isn’t Enough
For a majority of products on the supermarket/drugstore shelf, the focus is on removing stains formed from food, drinks, or habits like smoking. Unfortunately, not all stains are close enough to the surface to be treated by simple over-the-counter products. Some other products attempt to create an optical illusion and make your teeth appear brighter, but don’t attempt to actually create a sustainably whiter smile.
Over-the-counter options can also create more problems than solutions, as gum damage and enamel decay are two real possibilities. Whiteners are safe for teeth, but can irritate your gums, potentially even causing receding gums. Over-the-counter products can’t keep the whiteners on your teeth and off your gums. Whitening toothpaste presents another problem: it’s abrasive. It works by scraping away the stains, and taking with them a lot of your tooth enamel. Once enamel is gone, it can’t be restored. The irony is that if your enamel is too thin, it lets the yellow from your dentin show through, making your teeth permanently discolored.
If you are truly looking for a whiter and brighter smile, the best solution would be seeing a dentist, like Dr. Bob at the Advanced Dentistry of Butler and getting a consultation on how to put your best smile forward.
What Options Do I Have?
When trying to improve your smile, you have a myriad of cosmetic dentistry options which can include:
- In-office whitening
- Lumineers
- Veneers
For starters, in-office whitening usually only takes just 30 minutes and you can have a brighter smile than you ever dreamed of from the comfort of your dental office. You can also save yourself a lot of wasted money on commercial options if you choose a dentist to help with your whitening needs.
While this is a fast and convenient way to give your smile a ‘facelift’, this may not work for everyone. Deeper stains and other issues may be causing your lack-luster smile and you need another option. Lumineers and veneers are another fantastic choice if you want to feel like your smile goes “Ping” in every photo. The best thing about Lumineers and veneers is that you can treat anywhere from a single tooth, to an entire mouth and have that perfect, even, bright smile that you’ve always dreamed of.
Lumineers or veneers can even help if enamel damage means your teeth don’t respond to chemical whitening anymore. And they let your smile be as white as you want it to be–you’re not limited by the natural color of your tooth enamel.
Whiter Teeth, Today!
There are other options for improving your overall smile, and you can talk to your team at the Advanced Dentistry of Butler today for more information.
No matter your reason behind wanting a whiter smile, you can trust that Dr. Bob and his outstanding team in Butler can help you find the best solution for your teeth. Contact us today by either filling out our convenient online form, or calling (724) 282-4436. We look forward to hearing from you.
