Your smile is often the first thing others see when looking at you. Making a great first impression is a wonderful way to boost your confidence. In fact, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry found that 96% of adults believe an attractive smile makes a person more appealing. 74% feel an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chances of getting their ideal job.

 

That’s why it’s understandable that you might be feeling self-conscious about your smile. But fortunately, beautiful, straight white teeth isn’t just for Hollywood these days; advancements in cosmetic dentistry have made it safe and affordable to perfect that smile. This article explores the benefits of professional teeth whitening.

 

WHY DO OUR TEETH TURN YELLOW?

Unfortunately, there are plenty of reasons your smile might not be as white as you would hope. Coffee, cola, and red wine are just the start. Poor dental hygiene allows plaque and food stains to build up, also causing discolouration. Some illnesses and treatments lead to yellowing teeth as well including radiation and chemotherapy, some antibiotics and antihistamines, and more.

 

HOW DOES PROFESSIONAL TEETH WHITENING WORK?

Dentists, especially our expertly trained cosmetic dentists at High Prairie & Area Dental Centre can have fantastic results with in-office whitening treatments. It usually takes two trips to the dentist office. The first appointment is a consultation where we look at the current colour of your teeth, and what colour you’d like them to me. We also make the mold of your teeth so it’s ready for the second visit.

 

For the second visit, you’ll pick up your custom-made teeth whitening trays and the dentist will review with you the proper use and care for the tray. With the tray, you’ll use a gel (made mostly from hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide). This will allow you to see an improvement in your whitening within two weeks.

 

While in-office treatments cost more than other options such as whitening strips, the results are typically much better and last longer than store bought strips or trays.

 

BENEFITS OF TEETH WHITENING

You’ll see and feel a number of benefits after whitening your teeth:

  • BETTER MENTAL HEALTH. With more and more people whitening their teeth, it becomes easier to be embarrassed about your own smile. A persons’ self-esteem plummets when they’re ashamed of their appearance. Feeling confident and happy when you say hello can completely change how you interact with others as well. Additionally, smiling has been proven to help boost your mood.
  • BETTER ORAL HEALTH. Removing stains reinforces the health and strength of your teeth. It lessens the chance of developing gum disease from accumulations of plaque.
  • CAREER AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES. Having a great smile and the confidence that comes with it can certainly change how others receive you. Bright smiles are noticed more in job interviews and meetings. For those whose career depends on people skills such as sales or management, you’ll find greater success with a bright healthy smile.

 

ARE YOU A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR WHITENING?

Patients with discoloured teeth that are otherwise strong and healthy are the best candidates for professional teethwhitening. If you’re currently experiencing too much tooth decay, have chipped or cracked teeth, or need extensive restorations, then professional whitening isn’t your best option. You may want to consider crowns or porcelain veneersinstead..