Teeth Whitening in Jackson, MI
The first feature of a person that most people notice is their smile or lack of one. If you want to make a great impression on people, you need to take care of your teeth. If you smoke, drink coffee or red wine, then your teeth may look dingy and dull. However, our cosmetic dentists at Iocca Family Dentistry can fix this problem with teeth whitening in Jackson, MI.
Why Go to a Dentist to Whiten Your Teeth?
Although it can be tempting to purchase teeth bleaching supplies at a pharmacy or department store, those tooth bleaching products are not as good as letting a dentist whiten your teeth. Many over-the-counter products contain abrasives that can damage teeth.
Teeth whitening toothpaste usually contains hard cleaning granules that can scratch the enamel on teeth and allow bacteria a place to perch and grow. Also, whitening strips, toothpaste, and mouth rinses often take several applications before they start working to whiten teeth. However, the chairside whitening from our cosmetic dentists near you only needs one session to get your teeth up to eight shades lighter.
What is the Difference between Whiteners?
Both commercial and professional whiteners use the same active ingredient to get teeth whiter, which is hydrogen peroxide. However, the concentration levels between commercial and professional products are very different.
The concentration levels in commercial whiteners can be as high as 20 percent. However, professional teeth whitening products can have H2O2 levels as high as 40 percent. This level allows our dentists to whiten your teeth in about an hour or so.
Prolonging Teeth Whitening
Although professional teeth whitening can last several months, some last over a year, you can prolong your treatment by avoiding foods and drinks that stain teeth. Among them are:
- Dark berries
- Coffee and tea
- Red wines
- Acidic foods like tomatoes and citrus
- Red sauces
Some lifestyle habits like smoking and chewing tobacco will stain teeth too. If you consume these foods, drinks, or use tobacco products, you can brush your teeth after consuming them or rinse your mouth with water to avoid stains.
If you want your teeth to look their best, book an appointment with our dentists at Iocca Family Dentistry for teeth whitening near you.