Teeth Whitening

Why are my teeth discolored?

There are many different reasons why your teeth might lose their whiteness. Usually, it happens as a result of poor oral hygiene and consuming too many stain-causing substances, such as:

• Dark drinks like coffee, tea, and red wine
• Dark foods, like tomato-based sauces or blueberries
• Tobacco products, like cigarettes and chewing tobacco

Certain medications can also discolor your teeth, like tetracycline antibiotics, which cause staining in your teeth if you’re exposed to them before the age of 8.

Finally, your teeth naturally lose their whiteness as you get older. Over time, the hard outer layer of your teeth (enamel) wears down, while the soft inner layer (dentin) turns yellow. As your enamel becomes thinner, it makes the yellowing dentin more visible, which can create a discolored smile.

How do you whiten my teeth?

Dr. Rochefort offers diffrent whitening options patients  depending on their needs with Ultradent Opalescence™.

A popular option is a take home kit you can pick up right in our office.  Another option is fabrication of custom trays. To start, Dr. Rochefort and his team take an impression of your smile and use that impression to create a set of custom-fitted whitening trays. Your whitening trays are similar to a retainer and fit snugly and securely over your teeth.

Dr. Rochefort also provides you with professional-strength whitening gel. You fill your whitening trays with the gel, then wear them on your teeth for a set amount of time every day. Your smile will be noticeably whiter within a few weeks.

Does teeth whitening hurt?

Teeth whitening is a minimally invasive and painless procedure. Some patients experience increased sensitivity temporarily after their whitening treatment, but Dr. Rochefort can easily address that issue by giving you a special toothpaste to use.

Can’t I just whiten my teeth with a store-bought kit?

Whitening your teeth with an over-the-counter kit produces inferior results and might even be harmful to your oral health. The bleaching solution used in store-bought kits isn’t nearly as strong as what you can get with Dr. Rochefort and the Opalescence system, so it will take longer to brighten your teeth and you won’t necessarily get your smile as white.

Over-the-counter strips and trays also aren’t designed for your unique smile, unlike the custom-fitted bleaching trays that Dr. Rochefort provides. Because of this, the whitening gel in these kits frequently leaks out and gets in your mouth, where it can irritate your oral tissues.

If you want to be safe and effective in your journey toward a truly stunning smile, do it with the professionals at Dr. James Rochefort, Family Dentistry. Book your professional teeth whitening today by calling the office or using the online tool.