Everyone looks at your teeth when you are talking or smiling. A clean set of pearly white teeth can significantly improve your appearance and confidence. One way you can improve the appearance of your teeth is by undergoing a professional teeth whitening professional procedure. Tooth whitening is a cosmetic dentistry procedure of removing the discoloration on the outer layer of your teeth. It is an effective method of lightening the color of your teeth without surgery. Teeth can become discolored or stained if you consume food and beverages, smoke or due to age. Here are some of the most important details you should know before undergoing a tooth whitening procedure.

What are the various options of tooth whitening?

There are three major tooth-whitening options, which include over-the-counter whitening kits, dentist-prescribed take home whitening kits and in-office professional tooth whitening. An in-office tooth whitening procedure only takes one to two hours. First, the dentist will take photographs of your teeth, examine their status and ask questions to determine what caused the discoloration. The dental hygienist will then clean the teeth and use the best whitening substance to lighten your teeth. For the at home teeth whitening procedure, the dentist will take impressions of your teeth and make custom mouthpieces that will fit in you properly. Each of the mouthpieces will be filled with a whitening gel. You will wear the mouthpieces daily for about two to three weeks.

What should you do after a whitening procedure?

Tooth whitening is not a permanent solution. To maintain the bright smile, you should undergo a whitening procedure from time to time. Additionally, it is advisable you avoid smoking and taking strong beverages, such as tea and coffee. You should also brush and floss your teeth regularly or as recommended by your cosmetic dentist from Whitening Lightning clinic.

Are there risks associated with a whitening procedure?

There are no severe side effects associated with a whitening procedure; however, some people complain of more sensitive teeth after undergoing the procedure. Pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers should not have their teeth whitened. This is because the effects of whitening materials on the developing child or fetus are not known.

Individual results of a teeth whitening procedure may vary depending on the natural color of your teeth. For example, gray-toned teeth will not generally whiten to the extent the yellow teeth will do. For more information about professional tooth whitening procedures, and how you can contact an experienced whitening dentist, go to whtieninglightning.