It’s the most joyful time of year. People’s holiday lights and decorations are up, you are eagerly anticipating a month filled with parties, family gatherings, and other festivities. Of course, if you aren’t looking your best, you may be feeling more dread than joy at the prospect of all this socializing.
Dark, dingy teeth can add years to your appearance and make you self-conscious about showing your smile. This year, consider giving yourself an early holiday gift: newly luminous pearly whites with professional teeth whitening. This remarkably simple cosmetic procedure — which you actually do at home, with our guidance — will reveal the dazzling smile that reflects the true you.
Book a consultation for teeth whitening today. Call Smiles of Punta Gorda of Punta Gorda, FL at 941-585-0424.
A Stained Smile Is Not Inevitable
Over the years, our teeth go through a lot. So it’s really not surprising that they become worn down and yes, stained. Extrinsic stains affect the outer layer of the tooth — otherwise known as the enamel — and are typically attributed to things that we eat and drink. A few of the more common culprits include:
- Wine (red and white)
- Coffee
- Tea
- Dark-colored berries
- Soda
- Tomato-based pasta sauces
You can minimize discoloration by drinking plenty of water (this helps cleanse the mouth), practicing good oral hygiene, and avoiding highly acidic foods. Both poor dental habits and acids affect the enamel surface, enabling stains to adhere better and making them more difficult to remove. Rather than sipping coffee throughout the day, try to keep it to a cup or two in the morning, and brushing your teeth when you’re done.
Drugstore Products Don’t Deliver
You may be wondering why you should bother coming to Smiles of Punta Gorda for teeth whitening when there are so many products easily available at the drugstore. From toothpastes to gel kits, they all promise the same thing: a gleaming white smile.
The problem lies in the delivery. Maybe you’ve already tried some of these products and been disappointed with the results. The fact is that they will never work as well as our professional-strength system because they contain a much lower concentration of active whitening ingredient.
Plus, the trays that come with over-the-counter kits come in just one size. They are not custom fitted to your mouth and its dimensions, so they will not be as comfortable and may not cover your teeth evenly. They may also expose sensitive areas of your mouth to the gel, causing pain.
Get Results with Opalescence
At Smiles of Punta Gorda, we offer the excellent and highly effective Opalescence take-home teeth whitening kit. While this product is always used under the supervision of a dentist, it enables you to whiten your teeth at home, at your convenience.
When you come for your appointment, we will first perform a thorough examination of your mouth. We want to make sure your teeth are healthy enough for whitening, and that you will benefit from the treatment.
Once we’ve determined you are a good candidate for the procedure, we will take precise impressions of your mouth. We will use these impressions to craft custom whitening trays that conform perfectly to the dimensions of your mouth. This ensures they will be comfortable to wear and that they cover your teeth evenly with the gel.
When your whitening trays are ready, you will bring them home along with a supply of Opalescence whitening gel. The gels come in four different concentrations: 10%, 15%, 20%, and 35%. We will determine which formulation is best for you based on how fast you want results and how white you want your smile to be.
Depending on which gel you bring home, we may have you wear your trays for as little as 30 minutes or as much as 8 to 10 hours per day. You should see the results you want in a week or two.
Opalescence gels contain potassium nitrate and fluoride, so they help maintain the health and strength of your smile as they whiten it. The gel is thick and designed to stay put in the tray — it won’t leak out onto your gums. It is formulated to prevent dehydration and provide results that last.
If you want a whiter, brighter smile to dazzle your family, friends, and new acquaintances this holiday season, contact Smiles of Punta Gorda and book your appointment for teeth whitening. You may reach us via our online form or call our Punta Gorda, FL office at 941-585-0424.