Stained teeth can make you feel embarrassed about your smile and less confident in social situations. This can cause you to avoid being in photos or smiling as much out of fear of other people noticing. Fortunately, the secret to whiter teeth is closer than you think.
At-home whitening can be appealing, but it’s only effective when you choose a product like Opalescence. For the best whitening results, choose in-office treatment under the guidance of our expert dentists. Here, we use KöR Whitening to bring out the radiant smile hiding underneath your stains. Results can vary depending on the cause of your stains, so talk to us before beginning any teeth whitening routine.
Do At-Home Teeth Whitening Systems Work?
For many people, the nearest toothpaste aisle will be the first stop on their journey to a whiter smile. There are tons of products to choose from, nearly all from reputable companies trusted by dentists and regular folks alike.
Unfortunately, at-home whitening treatments aren’t created equal, which is why Dr. Mullins and Dr. Owen rarely recommend them. This is because their results are often inconsistent and they may actually harm your oral health in the process of whitening your teeth. According to Crest, whitening strips can cause temporary tooth sensitivity and gum discomfort.
On top of that, at-home whitening products can also cause issues if you have:
- Crowns
- Fillings
- Deep stains
- Dental restorations
It’s important to talk to us before beginning to use any whitening products. We can advise you on choosing the best system for a bright, radiant, and healthy smile.
Opalescence
After you’ve met with a dentist at MFD, we might recommend Opalescence if you’re a good candidate. We will explain the application process to you to make sure you have everything you need to use it safely and effectively.
Most over-the-counter (OTC) whitening products can result in inconsistencies and side effects due to their formulations. This includes:
- Pens
- Strips
- Toothpaste
- Mouthwash
For a better alternative, we offer Opalescence as our preferred system for at-home teeth whitening. This at-home whitening system has been hand-picked by Dr. Mullins as our at-home whitening system of choice.
Opalescence works like whitening strips from the drug store. They aren’t meant for deep or long-lasting whitening, but can be used if you want to go a few shades lighter for a wedding or special event. Keep in mind that prolonged use can damage your enamel, gums, and increase sensitivity, so only use them as a temporary solution.
Opalescence works thanks to oxygen molecules that penetrate the enamel of your teeth. This helps them to not only whiten the areas covered by the gel, but areas you may have missed, as well. The end result is a short-term whitening experience that you can’t wait to show off.
KöR Home Whitening
Choose KöR Home for a superior at-home whitening experience. Unlike Opalescence, this option provides serious whitening up to a couple of shades. The process is longer than with Opalescence, but the results speak for themselves. And with touch-ups once or twice a month, you can keep your teeth pearly white for much longer than with other at-home whitening systems.
KöR Home is a whitening product that Dr. Mullins stands behind and is proud of. It’s also an important component for our in-office deep bleaching system. You’ll use KöR Home before you begin your in-office treatments to help get your teeth ready for the process.
Click here to read more about our methods for whiter teeth in Knoxville, TN!
What’s the Difference Between DIY Whitening and Having It Done By Your Dentist?
The main difference between at-home DIY whitening and going to your dentist comes down to carbamide peroxide. Carbamide peroxide is the active ingredient in many whitening systems, whether they’re OTC or in-office. OTC options tend to have much less of the ingredient than professional whitening systems, making them less effective.
But there is a good reason for this. Whitening gels with high concentrations of carbamide peroxide can actually damage your gums and other soft tissues in your mouth if applied incorrectly. While they may be less effective, you won’t run the risk of damaging your gums and other tissues in your mouth. On the other hand, this does require you to use them more often to see results.
This isn’t the case with in-office whitening. Not only do you get professionally whitened teeth, but you’ll receive it under the trained care of our dentists. This ensures that you get a brighter smile without the fear of your gums and other soft tissues being damaged in the process.
To learn more about why professional in-office whitening is the better choice, click here!
KöR Whitening — The Premier In-Office Whitening System
My Family Dentistry has been a Premier Provider of KöR Whitening since 2019. While we had offered it long before then, our history of consistent results and patient care won us this great distinction.
KöR Deep Bleaching is widely regarded as one of the most effective whitening systems on the market. It’s been shown to remove the deepest stains and provide dramatic results that are as natural as they are beautiful. It uses aligners that have been custom-molded to your teeth for the brightest white possible with little sensitivity reported by patients.
KöR works by enhancing your teeth’s natural ability to absorb oxygen. Over time, the oxygen in the gel removes the molecules that cause stains, making your teeth look up to 16 shades whiter. Our patients report little to no sensitivity during the whitening process and are still free to enjoy their favorite food and drinks once their treatment is over.
KöR Deep Bleaching is a key part of our White Teeth for Life program. To maintain your results, you can apply regular touch-ups following your in-office treatment. You’ll use your custom-fit trays with a syringe of KöR whitening gel that stays fresh for six months in your refrigerator. KöR-Night is available for patients who don’t use a nightguard or who suffer from jaw pain.
Click here to learn more about KöR Whitening in Knoxville, TN!
Will Teeth Whitening Work for Me?
It can surprise many people that teeth whitening isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. In fact, people can have very different results not only depending on the type of whitening they use, but for the reasons their teeth are stained.
Teeth stains can be broken down into two different types:
- Extrinsic Stains: yellowish stains from food, drink, or lack of proper oral care
- Intrinsic Stains: brownish or grayish stains due to aging or medical problems
In this case, extrinsic stains are easier to remove with whitening treatment than intrinsic stains.
To learn more about the effectiveness of teeth whitening products, click here!
Other factors that can affect how the whitening process is done are crowns, fillings, and similar dental work. This is because artificial materials won’t whiten the same way as your natural teeth, if at all, and cause them to stand out more following your whitening treatments. This is another reason why it’s important to discuss whitening with your dentist beforehand.
You should also be aware that teeth whitening isn’t permanent. Over time, your teeth will gradually become stained and discolored again. Fortunately, you can prolong the brightness of your smile by reducing your intake of anything else that can affect the color of your teeth. This can include red wine, coffee, sweets, as well as quitting smoking.
Are you ready to get the radiant smile you deserve? Contact us today to schedule your appointment!
The results of at-home whitening can vary, so it’s important to choose a product like Opalescence that provides consistent results. With in-office treatments, you can receive the most effective whitening under the care of our dentists. We use KöR Whitening to reveal the radiant smile beneath teeth stains. Keep in mind that results can vary based on the cause of your stains and if you’ve had dental work, so talk to us before choosing a whitening system.
My Family Dentistry is open Monday through Thursday. Give us a call at (865) 947-6453 or you can schedule an appointment online.