The Truth about Teeth Whitening
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"Is teeth whitening SAFE?"
"What are the TOP 10 foods & beverages that will
stain my teeth?"
"How can I get FREE teeth whitening for life?"
The Truth
about Teeth
Whitening
A special report from Friendly Smiles Cosmetic Dentistry
www.friendlysmilesfargo.com
The Truth about Teeth Whitening Who doesn’t want a bright white smile? Fortunately, we have many choices in whitening products to choose from to achieve a beautiful white smile. This guide provides information on different teeth whitening procedures, answers commonly asked questions about teeth whitening, and lets you know what foods and beverages are most likely to stain your teeth. This guide ends with information on the White Smile for Life program that Friendly Smiles Cosmetic Dentistry offers to its patients in which enrolled patients get free teeth whitening for life!* *See office for complete details
Author
Stacey Sell, RHD
Clinical Manager, Hygienist
Stacey Sell has been a Dental Hygienist since 1995
and enjoys helping many people achieve bright
and healthy smiles. She started out as a Dental
Assistant in 1992 and soon after that, decided
that she wanted to continue her education and
was accepted into the dental hygiene program in
1993 at North Dakota State College of Science.
Stacey graduated with an Associate's degree in
Dental Hygiene in 1995. She has been a part of
the Friendly Smiles Team since January 2006 and
enjoys working with Dr. Barfield and the rest of the
team immensely. Her main focus is as Clinical Manager at Friendly Smiles but
she also enjoys working in hygiene as well. Stacey loves being able to have the
opportunity to help people achieve a bright and healthy smile that they will
enjoy forever.Table of Contents Is teeth whitening right for you?………………………. 5 Types of whitening products..…………………………. 6 Commonly asked questions…………………………… 7 Top foods & beverages that stain …………………… 9 White Smile for Life ………………………………………. 10
The Truth about Teeth Whitening
Is teeth whitening right for you?
Teeth whitening is a process of bleaching your teeth with a hydrogen peroxide
gel that makes your teeth appear whiter.
The first and most important step before starting any whitening system is to visit
your dentist and hygienist and have a professional cleaning and exam done to
rule out any dental concerns before you start your whitening.
Your dentist and hygienist will review with you any dental concerns they may
have and determine if you are a candidate for whitening. Possible concerns
that a dentist may have can include, but are not limited to:
• Active decay
• Active gum/tissue inflammation
• Composite (white) fillings, crowns or veneers on the front teeth that will
not whitening during the whitening process
• Recession (areas of root surface that are exposed) that can cause
sensitivity to the whitening process
www.friendlysmilesfargo.com 5
The information provided in this guide is not a substitute for medical or professional care, and you should not use the information in place of a visit. If you believe you have
any health problem, you should promptly consult your physician or other healthcare provider. Health and medical information changes constantly. Therefore the information in
this guide or on the linked websites should not be considered current, complete or exhaustive, nor should you rely on such information to recommend a course of treatment for
you or any other individual in place of a visit.The Truth about Teeth Whitening
Types of whitening products
There are many different whitening products to choose from. They will all whiten
your teeth but the main difference is the time it will take to whiten your teeth.
• Over-the-counter whitening products
These are products that can be purchased in stores such as Crest®
Whitestrips®.
• Professional strength white strips
These are products you purchase from your dentist. We sell professional
strength Crest® Whitestrips®, which are 80% stronger than the over-the-
counter ones. These also come in a 3 week supply instead of a 2 week
supply.
• Custom at-home bleaching trays
These are custom trays made specifically for you by your dental office and
are made to fit your teeth. You place a small amount of the peroxide gel in
the upper and lower tray and are worn for a specific amount of time,
depending on your need and tolerability. They are usually worn for 30
minutes twice a day, but can be worn up to 1 hour for 1-2 weeks.
• Zoom “in-office” whitening
This is a process that is done at your dental office. Total appointment time is
around 2 hours. The first step is to protect all tissues surrounding your teeth by
covering them with a protective gel. Next, a peroxide gel is applied to your
teeth and a special light is placed over your teeth in 3-4 sessions for 15 minute
intervals. More than one visit may be necessary to obtain the whitening
desired or can be used in combination with an at-home tray system to
achieve the desired result.
www.friendlysmilesfargo.com 6
The information provided in this guide is not a substitute for medical or professional care, and you should not use the information in place of a visit. If you believe you have
any health problem, you should promptly consult your physician or other healthcare provider. Health and medical information changes constantly. Therefore the information in
this guide or on the linked websites should not be considered current, complete or exhaustive, nor should you rely on such information to recommend a course of treatment for
you or any other individual in place of a visit.The Truth about Teeth Whitening
Commonly asked questions
Is teeth whitening safe?
Yes, whitening is safe for your teeth when done in moderation. After your initial
whitening has been completed, touch ups may be wanted or needed every 6
to 12 months. This can depend on staining habits that are present.
Are there any side effects from teeth whitening?
The main side effect of whitening is tooth sensitivity to air or extreme
temperature changes, such as eating something really hot or cold. This occurs
because during the whitening process there are “tubules” or pores that open up
and allow passage to the inner part of the tooth which causes the sensitivity.
Saliva contains minerals that aid in healing these pores but to help speed the
process along, sensitivity toothpaste can be used to aid in the healing of these
pores.
Can you bleach your teeth during pregnancy or nursing?
We suggest that pregnant women and nursing mothers delay whitening until
after the pregnancy or nursing.
www.friendlysmilesfargo.com 7
The information provided in this guide is not a substitute for medical or professional care, and you should not use the information in place of a visit. If you believe you have
any health problem, you should promptly consult your physician or other healthcare provider. Health and medical information changes constantly. Therefore the information in
this guide or on the linked websites should not be considered current, complete or exhaustive, nor should you rely on such information to recommend a course of treatment for
you or any other individual in place of a visit.The Truth about Teeth Whitening
Will teeth whitening make my white fillings, crowns or veneers whiter?
No, only natural tooth structure will whiten. White fillings, crowns and veneers will
not whiten. But this does not mean you cannot whiten your teeth. You may
choose to replace fillings, crowns and veneers. You should discuss the options
that would be best for you with your dentist.
Can I bleach my teeth when I have untreated cavities?
No, we suggest you have you cavities repaired before whitening your teeth to
prevent extreme sensitivity. If you are in a situation that is involving a cavity in
your front teeth and you want your teeth whiter, discuss this with your dentist first
and they will recommend an appropriate treatment plan.
Can you whiten your teeth using whitening toothpaste?
Toothpastes remove stains from the surface of the enamel by using a mild
abrasive; they do not change the color of the enamel.
How long does the whitening results last?
Tooth whitening is not permanent. Teeth that are exposed to certain foods and
drinks that cause staining will see a gradual fading of the whiteness of their teeth
as early as one month. If staining type foods and drinks are avoided as much as
possible, the whitening could last a year or longer before the need for whitening
touch-up. (See the next section for examples for foods and drinks to avoid)
www.friendlysmilesfargo.com 8
The information provided in this guide is not a substitute for medical or professional care, and you should not use the information in place of a visit. If you believe you have
any health problem, you should promptly consult your physician or other healthcare provider. Health and medical information changes constantly. Therefore the information in
this guide or on the linked websites should not be considered current, complete or exhaustive, nor should you rely on such information to recommend a course of treatment for
you or any other individual in place of a visit.The Truth about Teeth Whitening
Top 10 foods & beverages that stain
There are many foods and drinks that can affect the color of your teeth.
Basically anything that you would be worried about staining a white t-shirt can
and will stain your teeth. Here are the top 10 foods and beverages that stain
teeth:
1. Wine - Surprisingly, both red AND white wine can stain your teeth. Red
wine contains tannins which stain teeth and research has shown that
people who drink white wine and then tea were more likely to develop
stains.
2. Tea - Ordinary black tea is rich in tannins which stain teeth and is a
bigger stainer than coffee. Herbal, white, and green teas aren't as likely
to stain your teeth as black tea.
3. Coffee
4. Cola - Both dark colored and light colored soft drinks are highly acidic
and promote staining of teeth by other foods and drinks.
5. Sports drinks
6. Sauces - Examples include soy sauce, tomato sauces, and curry sauces.
7. Berries - Examples include blackberries, cherries, grapes, blueberries,
cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, and pomegranates.
8. Beets
9. Sweets - Examples include popsicles, slushies, artificially colored candies,
and other sweets that turn your tongue into a funny color.
10. Acidic foods - These foods can weaken tooth enamel which promotes
staining of teeth by other foods and drinks.
www.friendlysmilesfargo.com 9
The information provided in this guide is not a substitute for medical or professional care, and you should not use the information in place of a visit. If you believe you have
any health problem, you should promptly consult your physician or other healthcare provider. Health and medical information changes constantly. Therefore the information in
this guide or on the linked websites should not be considered current, complete or exhaustive, nor should you rely on such information to recommend a course of treatment for
you or any other individual in place of a visit.The Truth about Teeth Whitening
With the White Smile for Life program that we offer to current patients at Friendly
Smiles Cosmetic Dentistry, our patients can keep their smiles bright and beautiful
for life!
When a patient enrolls in the White Smile for Life program, we make them
custom bleaching trays and give them a startup bleaching gel kit. This program
has a one time enrollment fee of only $99. This is a savings of more than $200!
Patients then receive a FREE touch-up tube of bleaching gel at each of their 6
month preventive visits for life!*
What we ask of our patients enrolled in the program in return is:
• They need to keep up with their six month preventive care visits. We care
about our patient's long term dental health and keeping up with regular 6
month checkups greatly reduces the chances of dental problems and
emergencies. We are happy to offer this program as an additional benefit to
our patients who are committed to their long term dental health.
• They need to provide us with at least 24 hours’ notice if they need to cancel or
change an appointment.
If you are interested in enrolling in this program, please call our office at 701-364-
9990 and we will get you started!
*See office for complete details. The touch-up tube is what is required to maintain whiteness for the “average” dental patient.
Additional gel is available for purchase for patients desiring even brighter teeth or those with natural gray tones. There is no
guarantee that whitening will work for everyone. If a patient loses, grinds, or breaks their custom trays, they can purchase another
one for $49.50. The cost of replacement trays and gel will be evaluated annually & adjusted to reflect changes in material and
operating costs. Patient's White Smile for Life membership is valid as long as Dr. Barfield retains her private practice in dentistry.
www.friendlysmilesfargo.com 10
The information provided in this guide is not a substitute for medical or professional care, and you should not use the information in place of a visit. If you believe you have
any health problem, you should promptly consult your physician or other healthcare provider. Health and medical information changes constantly. Therefore the information in
this guide or on the linked websites should not be considered current, complete or exhaustive, nor should you rely on such information to recommend a course of treatment for
you or any other individual in place of a visit.You can also read
