Teeth Whitening in Fort Walton Beach

Unlock Your Best and Brightest Smile

Did you know that those tooth whiteners you find at the store are really only effective at removing surface stains? To get professional-level results requires professional tools and expertise. So, if you’ve tried and failed at getting your teeth to a certain shade of white, maybe it’s time to get help from the professionals.

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Get your teeth up to eight shades whiter with just one appointment. For teeth whitening in Fort Walton Beach, call our dentist in Fort Walton Beach today!

How Does Professional Teeth Whitening Work?

Does this sound familiar? You are checking out the vast selection of whitening strips, gels, trays, and toothpastes. You settle on one from a trusted brand. But, after going through the entire box, you hardly notice a difference in the brilliance of your smile. What gives?

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The issue isn't that over-the-counter whitening products don't work, it's that they are only effective on surface stains.

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Professional teeth whitening solutions — the kind that are only available from your dentist — contain a higher concentration of peroxide and agents that extend the whitening action. Effective whitening requires the creation of "helpful" free radicals to break up the chromophores (the molecules responsible for causing stains).

So, if you are having little success with store-bought whiteners, you are most likely dealing with intrinsic stains (the type that appear in the inner layers of tooth enamel).

What's the Deal with the Blue Light in Teeth Whitening?

By itself, the blue light used in chair-side teeth whitening does very little to whiten the teeth. But, combine the blue light with a powerful peroxide solution and you create the perfect recipe for whitening perfection. The blue light helps amplify and extend the whitening properties of peroxide. Essentially, the "blue light boost" helps you achieve better whitening results, faster.

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How Does the Blue Light Work?

Peroxide is reactive to certain bands of light. To get the best type of reaction, dental professionals use the blue band of light in conjunction with peroxide. This combination of blue light and peroxide helps create several hydroxyl radicals. These free radicals are highly effective at breaking down the chromophores responsible for tooth stains.

What if My Stains Cannot Be Treated?

There are certain types of stains that even professional teeth whitening solutions can't touch. These types of stains are typically caused by the use of doxycycline or tetracycline in childhood. Although, antipsychotic medications, medications for high blood pressure, and antihistamines can also lead to internal staining of the tooth.

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Sometimes what appear to be stains aren't stains at all, but the result of enamel wear or demineralization. This thinning of tooth enamel can cause it to become semi-transparent. This can cause the dentin to show through, giving the tooth a darker or discolored appearance.

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In these instances, professional teeth whitening is only marginally effective. For whitening-resistant teeth, the only option to improve the appearance of your smile may be with the help of porcelain veneers and/or dental crowns. We would be happy to discuss your options and help find the right option for you.

What about Home Remedies?

We're all for going natural so long as the benefits outweigh the risks. Unfortunately, there are many natural teeth-whitening tips on the internet that range from ineffective to outright harmful to your oral health. Avoid these at all cost:

‍Abrasive toothpastes. Abrasive toothpastes that contain activated charcoal, baking soda, and even coconut fibers are effective, but do more harm than good. These abrasive toothpastes remove stains, but they also take some of the enamel along with it. By thinning your tooth enamel, you may ultimately find the gray, yellowish dentin of the tooth showing through.

‍Acidic solutions. The internet is filled with DIY whitening treatments. But, some of the most concerning involve acidic solutions that are either brushed onto the teeth, gargled, or swished as a rinse. Apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and orange juice are among the most commonly recommended. These solutions will remove some of the stains, but will etch and erode some tooth enamel, which can lead to irreversible damage and ultimately leave your teeth looking darker than when you started.

It’s unfortunate, but there are currently no natural and safe remedies to whiten teeth. Acids and abrasives can irreversibly harm your teeth to the point where no whitening treatment will be effective. The best advice? Only use teeth whitening products recommended by your dentist.

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