How to Get Your Teeth White and Bright

The teeth whitening industry in the United States was close to $7 billion in 2021, and it’s projected to approach $11 billion by 2030. This reveals a simple truth: White and bright teeth have become essential to making a great first impression. 

Many people’s teeth are a shade of off-white or ivory, as opposed to white. Television and movies, though, have created new expectations, making professional whitening for a brilliant smile more popular than ever.

Our team at Sabrina E. Mickel DDS & Associates in Beachwood, Ohio, proudly offers teeth whitening to meet your cosmetic goals. We use Philips Zoom! In-office whitening, a system that can improve teeth whiteness as much as eight shades brighter than your natural tooth color. 

Let’s take a closer look at the journey of teeth whitening and what you can expect from our in-office procedure.

Basic dental hygiene

For the best results, your teeth whitening journey starts with oral hygiene. This includes daily at-home care, such as brushing twice a day and flossing daily. 

But home care isn’t enough to prevent the build-up of plaque in hidden and hard-to-reach places. For that, you must rely on twice-annual dental cleanings, which we typically finish off with an abrasive polish. 

Practicing good dental hygiene assures your teeth and gums are clean and healthy, a necessary prerequisite for teeth whitening procedures. If you have cavities or gingivitis, it’s necessary to clear these up prior to any teeth whitening efforts. 

Chairside whitening 

For the most dramatic whitening results, you can’t beat in-office, chairside whitening with the Philips Zoom! system. The reason is simple. 

Teeth whitening uses bleaches to improve the appearance of your tooth enamel. Yet, bleaches can do damage to both teeth and gums when used incorrectly. To make consumer teeth whitening kits safe, bleaches are weak, with short periods of activity to keep you safe. 

By comparison, the bleach formulations for an in-office procedure done by trained professionals are much stronger than over-the-counter products. We perform whitening treatments on a near-daily basis, so your safety is ensured. 

At-home follow-up

While chairside whitening achieves dramatic results, foods and drinks like bright berries, wine, coffee, and tea may still stain your teeth. Avoiding these staining agents will help extend your in-office whitening, but let’s face it — all of these are tasty pleasures. 

So to make your Zoom! treatment last longer, ask us about an at-home whitening plan. We’ll create a whitening tray customized for your mouth and provide whitening gels to use with it. Compared to a generic tray from an over-the-counter kit, our personalized tray will distribute whitening gel evenly. 

Your next step to a brighter smile

It’s now easier than ever to maintain your whitest and brightest smile. Contact Sabrina E. Mickel DDS & Associates online or by phone to learn more about our teeth whitening options. Book your visit today.