Tag: Teeth Whitening

Is the Hydrogen Peroxide I have at home safe to use for teeth whitening?

Hi. I have hydrogen peroxide at home. I am wondering if I can swish it around in my mouth and get my teeth white. - Cydnee

Cydnee - Hydrogen peroxide is safe for whitening teeth. But the liquid hydrogen peroxide in your medicine cabinet will have very little whitening effect on your teeth. Some teeth bleaching gels contain hydrogen peroxide, while others contain carbamide peroxide.

Teeth whitening gel from a dentist contains a stronger amount of the whitening agent. In addition to receiving gel from your dentist, you will receive customized teeth whitening trays. The whitening trays fit your teeth only. They are not one-size-fits-all trays that you can buy in a store, so the whitening gel is pressed against your teeth and penetrates them. You will be instructed by your dentist on how long to leave the whitening gel on your teeth.

Another advantage of getting the whitening gel from your dentist is that teeth whitening is not right for everyone. Depending on the cause of the stains in your teeth, whitening them can make stains more noticeable. In some cases, better and safer results are achieved with porcelain veneers.

Your dentist will recommend the right treatment for your case. If the right treatment is to bleach your teeth, your dentist can monitor the progress and make any needed adjustments.

This post is sponsored by New Jersey cosmetic dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

Remain attractive at any age by improving your smile

In an August 2012 survey conducted for the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, 45% of participants said they think that a beautiful smile helps us remain attractive regardless of our age. Eyes came in second at 34%, and body shape, hair, and legs followed distantly—but nothing compared to the value of a smile.

And more than 62% of the participants said they prefer spending money on improving their smile over making improvements to their weight, hair, eyes, or anything else.

So what can you do to improve your smile? One of the most inexpensive treatments is to whiten your teeth. If you want a brighter smile quickly, many dentists offer in-office treatment that will brilliantly whiten your smile in an hour. Take-home treatment is less expensive, and you’ll see results in about two weeks. A dazzling smile gives you a lift and makes you look and feel younger.

If you have teeth that are worn or misaligned, braces aren’t the only way to straighten them. Porcelain veneers—thin wafers of porcelain—can be bonded to the front of your teeth. With help from your cosmetic dentist, you will decide on the shape, size, and color of your new smile.

Cosmetic dentistry offers many options to improve your smile and make you look younger. Visit the online smile galleries of experienced cosmetic dentists and see the difference they can make.

This blog is sponsored by New Jersey cosmetic dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

Makeover candidate

I’ve always been unhappy with my smile, but figured it was the one I was given and should “deal with it”. I think my teeth are too short. However, in the last three months I have chipped four teeth. (I’m not usually this clutzy). Anyway, now I feel like I have a “right” to do something about fixing my teeth. I was wondering, I know there is a way to fix the chips, but is there a way to fix my short teeth too? Would I be a smile makeover candidate? Does dental insurance cover any cosmetic stuff?

Jennifer S.- Idaho

Jennifer,

It sounds like you would make a fantastic makeover candidate. I’d specifically look into porcelain veneers. They are able to lengthen and even change the shape of your teeth.

Dental insurance tends to care more about function than form. As a result you will find that insurance is willing to get your teeth working again, but doesn’t really care how beautiful they are. Those services you generally have to cover. There are ways to do that affordably. One of the things I would not do to save money, though, is look for the cheapest cosmetic dentist. This is one of those areas where you literally get what you pay for. Two patients can get the same exact type of porcelain veneers and on one woman they’ll look stunning and on the other they look totally fake. The difference? The dentist.

It takes real artistry to make a smile look natural and stunning. I would specifically look for a dentist in your area who is AACD accredited, like Dr. Hurley is. They won’t be the cheapest, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the most expensive either. Plus, there are smart ways to save money. For instance. Let’s say all your chips are on your top teeth. If that is the case, there isn’t a huge reason to get veneers placed on your top and bottom teeth. Instead, I’d do veneers on the top teeth and just do teeth whitening on the bottom arch of teeth. That will save you quite a bit of money right there. That is just one example. Talk to your dentist about the kind of budget you have and what you’d like done. Many dentists can find ways to help you get there.

This blog is brought to you by New Jersey Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.