Teeth Whitening Lancaster

How Do Teeth Become Stained?

Teeth become stained over time for a wide variety of reasons, including:

• Dark Drinks – If a drink can stain a couch or a carpet, that means it can have the same effect on your teeth. Patients can minimize these effects by enjoying their beverages with a straw or drinking water immediately after.
• Colorful Food – Certain dark or brightly colored fruits and other foods lead to stains. Be sure to brush your teeth after eating!
• Aging – Over time, the enamel of your teeth starts to wear down allowing the natural yellow color to shine through more clearly. The amount of enamel you have to start with depends on genetics.
• Certain Medication – Certain over-the-counter medications lead to yellow or gray stains. If you suspect something you’re taking is having this effect, let our doctors know.
• Too Much Fluoride – Too much of this helpful mineral before permanent teeth erupt can lead to chalk-like spots forming on your teeth.
• A Poor Oral Hygiene Routine – By not removing staining substances from your teeth with routine brushing and flossing, patients allow dangerous bacteria to build up and cause more and more damage and discoloration.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?

If you are dealing with any of the following types of stains, there is a good chance you’ll be eligible to undergo professional teeth whitening:

• Surface stains as well as those deep down within the tooth’s layers
• Medication-causing tooth discoloration
• You want to rid your smile of stains that cannot be eliminated using store-bought whitening kits

You’ll need to have good oral health before moving forward with teeth whitening treatment, which means no signs of tooth decay, cavities, or gum disease. And if you’re concerned about the potential for sensitivity, you’ll be pleased to learn that our products contain a desensitizing agent, allowing you to have a more enjoyable experience.

How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

At Lancaster Family Smiles, we are pleased to provide two options for professional teeth whitening: in-office and take-home kits. Based on your preferences, you will receive clear instructions regarding how each method works to ensure maximum and long-lasting results.

Take-Home Teeth Whitening

Take-home kits are often ideal for patients who feel uncomfortable with the idea of dramatically changing their smiles all at once, or who need their treatment to be flexible to fit in with a hectic schedule.

Instead of turning to over-the-counter kits at your local pharmacy, we strongly recommend receiving a custom set from our doctors! We’ll provide you with strong whitening gel and personalized oral trays that fit your smile comfortably.

Your job is simple –just wear both together for a certain amount of time each day. You can do this in the comfort of your own home whenever you have a little free time; in fact, you can watch television, read a book, or do chores while your teeth are becoming brighter. In just a few weeks, you’ll start to see beautiful changes.

In-Office Teeth Whitening

Do you have a busy schedule that prevents you from attending multiple appointments? Is there a special event coming up on short notice that you’d love to look your very best for? In these cases, our team often recommends our in-office Venus White procedure for fast, dramatic results that are sure to exceed your expectations.

This procedure works by essentially exfoliating stains from inside your teeth and restoring a more natural shade. Our team will apply a high-grade whitening gel to your teeth and activate its effects with a special light; patients simply sit back and relax throughout this process with their gums, eyes, and lips completely protected. After a few short sessions during which old gel is removed and new gel is applied, you’ll see gorgeous changes! In fact, most patients find their teeth are lightened by several shades.

Benefits of Teeth Whitening

While there are many different types of professional teeth whitening systems, you will find that by choosing ours, you will:

• Achieve dramatic results in about one hour at our dental office
• Can enjoy a smile that appears up to eight shades brighter
• Receive a personalized treatment plan that matches your unique goals and needs
• Obtain a new and improved smile that looks more aesthetically pleasing and appears much healthier
• Receive customized dental trays that are comfortable to wear for quick and easy touch-ups at home

Tips for Maintaining a Brighter Smile

Although teeth whitening is much more affordable than other cosmetic solutions, it is still an investment in your time and money. This means you’ll want to do everything you can to maintain your results. You can do this by:

• Brush & Floss Daily: Keeping up with your daily oral hygiene routine (i.e., brushing twice a day for two minutes and flossing at least once before bed) ensures that no staining particles linger on your teeth.
• Biannual Checkups: Continue to see your dentist for six-month dental checkups and cleanings so we can remove tartar buildup and buff out surface-level stains.
• Limit Staining Foods & Drinks: Avoid consuming too many dark-colored beverages and foods that can easily stain your teeth.
• Stay Hydrated: Drinking water regularly washes away discoloring food debris before it can seriously stain your enamel.