Brushing your teeth is an excellent way to remove cavity-causing plaque, but it won't always remove the stains that can dull your smile. Fortunately, Your Norwalk, IA, dentists, Dr. Donna Grant, Maureen Winslow, and Elizabeth Fleck, can help you renew your smile with the help of teeth whitening.

Do you have stained teeth?

Have you noticed that white tablecloths or t-shirts tend to look a little dull and stained after a few years? Once substances and foods that contain dark pigments penetrate the fibers, it can be tough to remove the stains completely from the fabrics.

The same thing happens to your teeth. Dark pigments in coffee, tea, cola, wine, popsicle, candy, berries, and other foods and beverages sink into tiny openings in your tooth enamel. No matter how well you brush your teeth, the pigments won't budge. Over time, this collection of pigments makes your smile look dull and yellow. Stains can also occur due to aging or using tobacco products.

Whitening offers a simple solution to stains

Hydrogen peroxide gel, the active ingredient in the professional-strength whitening agents that dentists use, break up and remove the dark pigments in your enamel, leaving your teeth as much as eight shades whiter than before.

The whitening process starts with a thorough cleaning in the Norwalk dental office. Cleaning removes tartar and plaque from your teeth, ensuring that the hydrogen peroxide gel can penetrate teeth evenly. Your sensitive roots and tissues are protected with a protective gel and plastic retractors that hold your lips and cheeks away from your teeth during whitening.

After the whitening gel is applied to your teeth, your dentist will expose it to the Zoom! light. The light helps the gel penetrate your tooth enamel, enhancing the effects of the treatment. The entire treatment takes about 45 minutes and involves exposing your teeth to the Zoom! light during three 15-minute intervals.

You can expect your teeth to stay whiter for several years after teeth whitening. Avoiding foods and beverages that contain dark pigments can help you prolong your whitening results.

Interested? Give us a call

Revitalize your smile with teeth whitening! Call your dentists in Norwalk, IA, Drs. Grant, Winslow, and Fleck, at (515) 256-9000 to schedule your appointment.