Are your teeth up to it? Or are they stained from one too many cups of coffee and glasses of red wine while trapped indoors over this past year?
Why not stop by Dr. Fong’s beautiful Santa Ana offices and let us whiten your teeth dramatically?
How long does a teeth whitening procedure take?
At Dr. Fong’s, our in-office whitening treatments take about one hour. They can whiten your teeth from five to seven shades. The custom trays combined with the professional gel that we provide for at-home whitening usually involve a one- to two-week treatment timeframe. You fill your trays at home and then wear the trays for 30 minutes to one hour. The length of time necessary depends on the degree of staining on your teeth.
What causes my teeth to become stained?
Just as each of us has a unique fingerprint, every person’s enamel has a slightly different shade. Also, some people have enamel that is more porous, which makes the teeth prone to staining. As we age, our enamel thins and more of the dentin layer beneath begins to show itself. This is why our teeth become more yellow the older we get.
Staining that occurs on the enamel is similar to a stain on a piece of clothing. Teeth whitening can loosen these stains on the enamel. Here are some of the culprits behind the staining of your teeth:
- Food — Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, even dark chocolate have natural pigments in them that can stain the enamel of your teeth.
- Drink — Coffee, tea, red wine, cranberry and other dark juices, even cola soft drinks all can stain your teeth.
- Smoking — Nicotine leaves yellow stains on your teeth.
- Fluorosis — If a child has too much fluoride, it can cause this condition, which stains the teeth. This staining is in the dentin.
- Drugs — In the 60s and 70s tetracycline was a heavily used antibiotic, especially in children. Unfortunately, in many kids it permanently discolored their teeth.
- Genes — The enamel on some people’s teeth is darker than others. Also some people have enamel that is more porous and stains easier.
Want a brighter, whiter smile now that we’re seeing real people up close and personal? Call Dr. Fong at (714) 549-1903 to schedule a teeth whitening appointment.