Teeth Whitening Specialist

Why are my teeth discolored?

Your teeth can become dull or discolored for a number of reasons. Some of the more common ways your teeth lose their shine are:

• Bad oral hygiene
• Consuming too many foods or drinks with dark pigments, like coffee, tea, or red wine
• Consuming tobacco products, like cigarettes and chewing tobacco
• Medications, like certain antihistamines, high blood pressure medications, antipsychotics, and chemotherapy

Your teeth also just tend to lose their color as you age. The hard, outer layer (called the “enamel”) tends to degrade and get thinner over time, while the soft, inner layer (called the “dentin”) yellows as you get older. The thinner enamel allows the yellower dentin to show through more, causing your teeth to look discolored.

Genetics can also play a role in the color of your teeth. Some people are genetically disposed to have thinner, more porous enamel, which is more prone to staining.

How do I whiten my teeth?

At Complete Dental Arts, Dr. Cheney uses the KöR whitening system to deliver his patients the most effective and efficient results available today.

The KöR whitening system works by applying a whitening solution to your teeth in custom-designed KöR-Seal™ trays that are designed to fit snugly around the curves and contours of your teeth. Once in contact with your teeth, the whitening solution attaches to the stain pigments in your teeth and lifts them out.

KöR is different from traditional bleach tray systems in a few key ways, though:

Refrigeration

The bleaching chemicals in whitening solutions are designed to break down — it’s how they attach themselves to the stains in your teeth. But that also means that they can lose their potency over time, or as soon as they hit room temperature. KöR stops this degradation by keeping their whitening solution refrigerated at all steps in the process, from manufacture all the way through to shipping it to your dentist. This ensures that when you use KöR whitening products, you’re using a solution at its most potent concentration.

Saliva-free bleaching

Most bleaching systems are only effective for 25-35 minutes because they’re prone to saliva exposure. Saliva contains antioxidants that destroy the hydrogen peroxide in bleaching solutions, making the solution less effective. KöR-Seal™ trays are designed to fit precisely around your teeth and keep your saliva out of the bleaching solution. This allows you to wear your trays for up to 6-10 hours overnight, giving you an even whiter smile.

Why can’t I just use an over-the-counter whitening strip?

Many people try to whiten their teeth with generic whitening strips or trays that they buy at their local pharmacy or drug store, but these products are ineffective at best, and harmful at worst.

Because the trays and strips aren’t designed to mold to your particular teeth, the bleaching solutions frequently seep out, preventing it from properly whitening your teeth. When the whitening solution seeps out, it can easily come into contact with your gums, which can be irritating to those tissues.

The whitest teeth come from professional treatments, like those offered by Dr. Cheney at Complete Dental Arts. Add some luminance to your smile today by calling the office or scheduling an appointment online.