Tooth stains or discoloration are most commonly caused by tobacco, coffee, tea, red wine, berries, tomato-based sauces, select medications, the natural aging process and genetics. Regardless of the cause, it’s common to feel self-conscious when your pearly whites are no longer white. If you’re unhappy with the color of your teeth, you’ve probably attempted to whiten them yourself with over-the-counter (OTC) products. While a few of these options may subtly brighten your stained teeth, most people don’t achieve the results they desire using these methods. Professional teeth whitening from our skilled cosmetic dentist Dr. Wang is the best option if you want a whiter and brighter smile that lasts a long time. At Centerport Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry, we offer affordable, office-based teeth whitening in Portland, OR. Our professional-grade bleaching agents can brighten your teeth multiple shades lighter in just one visit, and we also offer at-home trays that take longer to produce optimal results.
Although OTC products are generally safe when used as directed, multiple applications can cause gum sensitivity and other issues. In almost all cases, it can take weeks or even months to see changes and they’ll likely be minimal. Home remedies such as baking soda, activated charcoal and whitening toothpaste may result in minimal brightening, but can be abrasive and cause enamel erosion and tooth sensitivity. OTC whitening strips may work for some time, but often cause tooth and gum sensitivity and wear down tooth enamel if used too often. OTC whitening trays aren’t custom made to fit your mouth, which results in a loose fit that can cause whitening solution to leak out and harm your gums. Professional teeth whitening in Portland, OR provides numerous benefits other methods simply can’t offer to help you achieve brighter and whiter teeth—safely, conveniently and quickly.
Professional teeth whitening treatments provide many advantages compared to their OTC counterparts. Hydrogen peroxide is the most effective tooth whitening ingredient because it breaks down into water and oxygen, thereby removing stains from the surface of your teeth. Most OTC options only contain 3–4% of hydrogen peroxide, while professional options contain 25–40% of hydrogen peroxide. Whether you choose in-office or at-home trays, the clinical-strength bleaching agents we utilize at Centerport Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry are far more effective and safer than OTC teeth whitening products at reducing tooth stains and discoloration. Professional teeth whitening in Portland, OR delivers immediate and dramatic results in as little as an hour and the great news is most patients don’t experience any tooth or gum sensitivity during or after whitening. Dr. Wang will help you choose the best teeth whitening to complement your natural smile beauty and monitor your treatment for the most optimal results. After tooth whitening treatment, enjoy brighter, whiter teeth by maintaining a good oral hygiene routine, visiting us for professional cleanings and minimizing consumption of teeth-staining foods and beverages! For patients looking to completely transform their smile, teeth whitening can be combined with a Smile Makeover or Porcelain Veneers to achieve a flawless, lasting smile.
