Snow and New York City don’t necessarily go well together. What is normally thought of as bright and white can be a grey, slushy, mess.
At least you can have snow-white teeth thanks to our in-office and at-home teeth whitening options at Prosthodontics of New York. And if you come in for one of these treatments now, your teeth will be snowy white indeed, just in time for your office or family holiday party!
Why are my teeth stained?
Our tooth enamel color is like our skin color — everyone’s is just a little different. Some people have naturally darker enamel, while for others their enamel is more porous and prone to staining. As we age, our enamel thins and begins to show more of the dentin, the tooth layer under the enamel. This is why older people often have teeth that are more yellow.
These are the reasons our teeth become stained:
- Food— Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, soy sauce, even dark chocolates have natural pigments in them that can stain the enamel of your teeth.
- Drink— Coffee, tea, red wine, cranberry and other dark juices, and cola soft drinks all can stain your teeth.
- Cigarettes— Nicotine leaves yellow stains on your teeth.
- Fluorosis— If a child has too much fluoride, it can cause this condition, which stains the teeth. This staining is in the dentin layer of the tooth, not the enamel.
- Drugs— Heavily used as an antibiotic in the 60s and 70s, tetracycline permanently discolored the teeth of many children. Like fluorosis, this staining is in the dentin layer.
- Genes— The enamel on some people’s teeth is darker than others. Also some people have enamel that is more porous and stains easier.
Our teeth whitening options
At Prosthodontics of New York, we offer two options to get the stains off your teeth: Opalescence Boost for in-office whitening and at-home whitening kits. It is important to note that teeth whitening doesn’t work on fluorosis or tetracycline-stained teeth, as they are stained on the interior layer of the teeth. Porcelain veneers are the solution to this staining. However, everyday stains from red wine and such are perfect for teeth whitening at Prosthodontics of New York.
- Opalescence Boost— Our in-office whitening only takes around one hour and it whitens your teeth several shades. Opalescence Boost uses a gel that contains potassium nitrate and fluoride. We apply the gel with a brush, making sure it doesn’t contact any soft tissue. Then we suction away the gel after about 15 minutes. We usually recommend a second application.
- At-home whitening— For at-home whitening, we create custom trays based off dental impressions. Then we provide professional-strength gel and explain how to use it at home. You fill the trays at home and wear them for roughly 30 minutes a day for about one week. Your whitening with our at-home kits is similar to what can be attained with in-office whitening; the process simply takes longer.
Schedule a Consultation
Want whiter teeth for your holiday parties? Call us at Prosthodontics of New York, (212) 758-9690, to make your appointment for either in-office or at-home teeth whitening.
