Whitening is Whitening
“I got my teeth whitened!” exclaims your friend.
“Where did you do it? Was it expensive? Did it hurt? How long does it last?” you ask.
These are just a few of the many questions we get asked by our patients on a daily basis at Linhart Dentistry, and they are likely the same questions you think of when you hear about teeth whitening or bleaching.
So let’s get down to the fact...and fiction of teeth whitening so you can start brightening your smile!
First, you may ask what are the different types of whitening. Well, there are two ways that your teeth become stained. These are called intrinsic and extrinsic stains.
Intrinsic stains are inside the enamel and dentin (the substance that lies under your tooth enamel) that cause them to change color, usually yellow, but sometimes gray or even red!
Intrinsic stains can be caused by genetics, like having yellow teeth from youth, or even by antibiotics. Tetracycline, a popular antibiotic, was found to cause significant gray tooth stain when given to children while their permanent teeth were in development.
Extrinsic stains are caused by foods and beverages like coffee and tea, blueberries, etc.
The removal of these two different types of stains is different, but technique sensitive.
Extrinsic, or surface stains, are best removed by regular brushing and flossing, but most effectively removed at the dentist's office. At Linhart Dentistry, we use a baking soda “jet” or a similar polishing paste to blast off the stains. This is very effective and safe for the teeth.
The risk of removing surface stains is that abrasives, which are effective, can also abrade away tooth enamel and dentin causing long term, permanent damage. Charcoal toothpastes and other toothpastes high in abrasives like silica (basically sand) can wear away your tooth structure over time.
While this may remove the surface stains effectively, in the end your teeth will appear more yellow due to enamel wear; unfortunately this damage is permanent and irreversible.
We highly recommend staying away from charcoal and other highly abrasive toothpastes. Any toothpaste that claims that it is “whitening” yet doesn’t contain any sort of peroxide is likely highly abrasive.
Intrinsic stains that are actually inside the tooth structure are much more difficult to remove than surface stains. The most effective and clinically proven way to remove the stains is by bleaching, or whitening your teeth.
Linhart has developed three distinct levels of whitening that are easy, safe, and effective. The only side effect of whitening can be transient, temporary tooth sensitivity. This sensitivity is harmless but can be uncomfortable. With our whitening products we have managed to decrease or eliminate sensitivity altogether while still being very effective.
- Our gold standard to achieve a whiter brighter smiles is our LINHART in-office laser whitening. This technique has been perfected over 20+ years and involves custom formulated peroxide gel that is light activated. The process is done at our Linhart Dentistry office in New York City. It takes about 2 hours and gives instant results that are long lasting and significant. We have had thousands of patients use our in-office whitening with dazzling results.
- The Linhart Whitening Collection was developed as part of our LINHART line of products to help you achieve similar results as our in-office whitening, but in the comfort of your own home. The collection includes 4 high strength carbamide peroxide syringes, using the same type of gel as our in-office procedure. It also includes a waterproof, wireless, 16-LED light to help activate the gel, and a tube of our Linhart Whitener Gel.
- Our Linhart Whitener Gel is the perfect supplement to your everyday toothpaste. Just add a drop of our smooth mint peroxide based gel on top of your normal toothpaste, and brush normally.It offers an effective, stable, and easy to use tooth whitening formula that fits into your everyday routine.
With these 3 options, you can achieve the whiter, brighter smile you have always wanted!
