The color of your smile is influenced by more than just how often you brush your teeth. Staining can be classified into two types: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic stains start inside your tooth, affecting the layer underneath your enamel. Typically, inner staining comes from certain medications or dental trauma. Extrinsic staining affects your enamel directly, staining the surface of your teeth. Certain foods and drinks, like coffee or berries, have staining agents that stick to your teeth, discoloring your enamel. Of course, brushing at least twice a day helps keep your enamel whiter, but stubborn stains may persist. And for patients with sensitive teeth, these stains can be difficult to treat! Your best teeth whitening option? Visit Aesthetic Dental to ask about our effective whitening treatments that patients with sensitive teeth can still enjoy!
Why Your Teeth May Be Sensitive
Natural teeth have four main layers. The innermost portion is your dental pulp, a collection of blood vessels, connective tissues, and nerves. Then there’s the cementum, which is a hard tissue that covers your roots. Next, there’s dentin, a sensitive, bone-like layer that makes up most of the tooth. And finally, the outermost layer, your enamel.
Enamel is an extremely hard substance that protects your tooth. However, your smile may become sensitive if your enamel wears down or your dentin becomes more exposed. Teeth sensitivity may occur due to:
Aggressive brushing: Some patients believe that the harder you brush, the more effective it is. This is not the case. Brushing too harshly actually wears your enamel down over time! Instead, we recommend using a gentle circular motion or an electric toothbrush that does most of the work for you.- Gum recession: Hard brushing or serious gum disease issues may cause your gum tissue to recede, pulling away from your teeth. In doing so, they expose the sensitive roots of your teeth.
- Acidic foods: Consuming acidic foods too often erodes enamel, even if you brush regularly. Carbonated drinks, citrus fruits, and wine are all acidic, which can thin your enamel.
- Teeth grinding: Clenching or grinding your teeth (known as bruxism) can fracture enamel and even harm your tooth’s structure. If grinding exposes your dentin, it will lead to severe sensitivity.
- Dental work: Recent dental work, like crowns or fillings, may cause temporary tooth sensitivity. Typically, that feeling should go away over time. If it doesn’t, we recommend contacting a dentist.
Tooth sensitivity, while relatively common, makes some things in life difficult. With sensitive teeth, you may need to be wary of hot or cold temperatures, anything too sweet, and teeth whitening.
The Best Teeth Whitening for Sensitive Teeth
Most teeth whitening treatments have similar whitening solutions. Typically, they contain substances such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, both safe and effective bleaching agents. However, these agents can cause pain or discomfort for patients with sensitive teeth, making the whitening process a problem.
At Aesthetic Dental, we understand that some patients experience tooth sensitivity, and we always strive to provide a comfortable experience in our office. To help combat tooth sensitivity, we use professional teeth whitening that has added ingredients to reduce sensitivity.
Our two treatments, in-office Phillips Zoom whitening or Opalescence Take-Home Trays, both use peroxide to lighten enamel color. But inside these solutions are desensitizing agents that help keep your teeth safe during treatment!
Phillips Zoom Whitening involves one appointment at our office that brightens your smile up to 8 shades in just 45 minutes. We use a high-concentration whitening gel made with hydrogen peroxide, but desensitized with ingredients such as potassium nitrate and amorphous calcium phosphate. These compounds are both safe and effective, helping to protect enamel and treat tooth sensitivity.
Take-Home Opalescence Whitening Trays let you whiten your teeth on your own time, using safe materials. Rather than hydrogen peroxide, this whitening gel contains carbamide peroxide. And, to protect from sensitivity, the Opalescence Whitening system adds potassium nitrate and fluoride. These ingredients help reduce sensitivity while still allowing the whitening kit to take effect. Over the course of treatment, you can expect your smile to lighten by 4-5 shades.
Find the Best Teeth Whitening for Sensitive Teeth in Southfield, MI!
Stained enamel is a part of life, but when the color of your teeth is bothering you, we have a solution. And for those with sensitive teeth, don’t worry! We offer safe and effective whitening treatments for patients that protect from sensitivity. Whether you want in-office treatment or an at-home kit, we always provide professional-grade whitening gel and effective treatments that brighten your smile without the hassle. To learn if you’re a good candidate for whitening treatment, schedule a free consultation with us in Southfield, MI.
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