Category Archives: Dental Cleaning

Pearly Whites? What Are Your Teeth Whitening Options

Teeth whitening procedures are a rapid growing trend for individuals of all ages. As we age teeth can change color over time due to smoking products and the food that we eat or drink. Fortunately there are many products that are available to brighten teeth up to several shades. These products can range in price and can be an option for even those with a low budget. The most common methods are whitening toothpastes, strips, gels or take home whitening kits and in office teeth bleaching.

Whitening Toothpaste

Over the counter toothpastes are available in most drugstores for an at home whitening solution. Although these are generally not as effective for everyone and they usually require prolonged daily usage before results are visible.

Whitening Strips

Whitening strips are also a cheap over the counter alternative that can be purchased at most drugstores. Clear strips containing peroxide based ingredients are applied to the teeth twice a day for 30 minutes for the duration of two weeks until results are achieved. The results can last between four to five months.

Whitening Gels

Gels can usually be purchased at the dentist’s office as a take home whitening kit. Gel is applied to the teeth in either a custom made tray or a standard silicon tray and kept against the teeth for 30 minutes. The procedure is repeated once a day for three days for whiter results. Whitening gels are a cost effective way to whiten your teeth with the direction of a dentist.

Teeth Bleaching

An in-office tooth bleaching is a procedure available from dental professionals and is the most effective and quickest method of obtaining a whiter smile. As it is done in the care of a professional the active ingredients are the strongest strength resulting in a quick and whiter outcome. In addition to this dentists will ensure that your gums and enamel are protected during the procedure. Hydrogen peroxide ingredients are applied to the teeth and the whitening process is active by a blue light. One session usually takes about 15-20 minutes and gives immediate results.

Overall there are a wide range of products that can allow you to obtain the whiter smile that you are looking for but it is highly recommended that you consult with a dental professional to decide which method would suit your teeth. D.R. Dental can help you in discovering which teeth whitening option would work for you, call to book an appointment.

Dental Cleanings Explained

A regular professional dental cleaning is a very important pillar in maintaining oral health and your general health.

Maintaining a good oral hygiene starts with good daily home care of brushing and flossing to control plaque and calculus buildup on your teeth, and lower the oral bacterial count. But even with best regular brushing technique some plaque and bacteria will still collect under the gums and around your teeth and eventually absorb enough minerals from your saliva to become solid hard, what we call at this stage dental calculus or tartar.

Dental calculus is hard enough that it is impossible to be removed with just brushing and flossing, that’s where an in office professional cleaning every three to six months comes to play in restoring oral health.

Why is dental calculus bad?

Dental calculus is a solid hard material made up mainly of dead bacteria and other debris as well as minerals from saliva and tissue fluid. Harm from dental calculus on its own is limited but one of its main characters is a rough porous surface which makes a fertile ground for other harmful bacteria to adhere around teeth and start producing toxins that will cause gum inflammation, in other words- gingivitis.

If gingivitis is left untreated for long enough it can progress to inflammation of the apparatus that anchors teeth to the jawbone and is called periodontitis or periodontal disease. Overtime, periodontitis dissolves the bone portion that is dedicated to hold teeth solid in place causing mobility and shifting of teeth and eventually, if severe enough, to tooth loss.

With regular in office professional cleanings we aim to combat gingivitis and prevent periodontitis from happening, as periodontitis is often irreversible. But even at the stage of periodontitis a lot can be made to stop its progression and preventing tooth loss.

What to expect during your cleaning appointment:

  • Calculus (tartar) removal.
  • Plaque removal.
  • Teeth Polishing.
  • Dental exam and oral cancer screening.