In the past, smokers had to live with yellowed teeth. Today, however, professional teeth whitening can minimize years of tobacco, food, and aging stains.
At Lake Mary Dentistry in Lake Mary, FL, Dr. Stephen Hochfelder provides professional teeth whitening for smokers. These treatments are effective at removing years of built-up tobacco stains. Dr. Hochfelder has tested various teeth whitening systems so he can provide options that consistently produce excellent results.
Why Can’t I Just Whiten My Teeth Myself?
Professional Options Offer Better Results
Over-the-counter teeth whiteners do not contain the same concentration of active whitening ingredients as systems available to dentists. Store-bought whitening strips, rinses, pastes, and kits simply cannot achieve the level of whitening, nor the evenness, as a professional system.
If you smoke, your teeth have probably been absorbing stains for years. It will take a strong whitening system to give you the results you want.
The Importance of Good Oral Health
All cosmetic dental treatments should be performed on a healthy mouth. Because smoking increases the potential for developing dry mouth, and dry mouth contributes to cavities, you need a professional oral exam before using any potentially harsh product on your teeth.
If you have cavities or failing restorations, these issues should be corrected before you begin using any teeth whitening product.
Those with gingivitis or periodontal disease risk further damaging their gum tissue. Since smoking increases the risk for gum disease, it is important to get checked out by a dentist before undergoing a whitening treatment.
In addition, people with thin tooth enamel are particularly susceptible to tooth sensitivity after whitening, making it better to undergo treatment under the supervision of a dentist.
In-Office Whitening
In-office, professional teeth whitening at Lake Mary Dentistry whiten teeth dramatically, in a single appointment. Your whitening treatment will take one hour and can lighten your teeth by up to eight shades.
We use Philips Zoom!®, a well-known, widely used, and evidence-based whitening system. The gel will be carefully applied to your teeth and then activated with a special light. Tobacco stains are lifted to the surface, then washed away.
Take-Home Whitening
Take-home teeth whitening can yield results similar to in-office treatment if used properly. Your NiteWhite® kit will include mouth trays to wear every night for up to two weeks.
How Do I Keep My Teeth White?
The best way to avoid tobacco staining is to stop smoking. If you’d like help, ask anyone on our team for resources.
Brushing twice a day and flossing once a day will remove some topical stains and elements that can stain teeth, like food and plaque. When teeth begin to discolor over time, simply resume using your NiteWhite kit or schedule another in-office treatment.
Professional Teeth Whitening at Lake Mary Dentistry
If you hide your smile from the world and need teeth whitening due to smoking stains, contact us online or call us today at (407) 321-8900 to schedule your appointment. Whitening can shave years off your appearance and give you a smile you’ll want to show off.
