Give your smile a boost with professional teeth whitening!

Did lockdown habits take their toll on the colour of your teeth?

As the peak of the pandemic has passed, at least for now, most of us are coming out of our ‘lockdown mentality’, even if very cautiously. Whilst some of us may have been raring to get going again, others will have been more cautious and perhaps even fearful in some cases.

As time goes by though, people will start to socialise again with friends and family and, to some degree, try to get back some sense of normality.

Naturally, there will be changes in the way we do things but some patients of our Bedford dental clinic may have noticed another change too; that of the colour of their teeth.

Changed habits and discoloured teeth

Over the last few months, many of us will have been spending a lot more time at home, possibly even working from there. This may also have driven a change in our eating habits in many cases. Although it may have provided an opportunity to do more home cooking for some, others will probably have spent a lot more time snacking, especially as a way of coping with the stress and boredom that some will have felt.

As we lie on the sofa catching up with our favourite soaps or box set, it is far more likely that we will have reached for sweets than healthy alternatives. This may have led to a degree of enamel erosion which causes a rough tooth surface, making it easier for staining to occur.

Add to this the likely increase in cups of tea and coffee drunk throughout the day and it isn’t hard to see why we expect to treat many patients with discoloured teeth over the coming weeks and months.

How can we help?

There are three key ways that we can help to restore the whiteness of your teeth. At The Dental Centre Bedford, we would first of all recommend that you have your teeth professionally cleaned by our hygienist. This is an excellent way to not only help keep your teeth and gums healthy, and avoid or manage gum disease, but the removal of built up tartar can also mean the removal of much surface staining too. Although the prime purpose of this treatment is to help you have a healthy mouth, patients should also notice that their teeth both look and feel much cleaner and fresher afterwards.

Professional whitening

If you find that the scale and polish provided by our hygienist doesn’t leave your teeth as white looking as you had hoped, it may well be that the discolouration does not come from surface staining alone, but from a darkening of the part of the tooth that sits behind the enamel. This is a natural phenomenon which occurs as we get older, and which no amount of brushing will rectify.

To whiten teeth affected in this way, the most successful treatment is our professional home teeth whitening kit. Using a whitening gel that is placed in custom made trays that fit over your teeth, this is a straightforward and effective way of whitening your teeth by several shades. As the trays are made from very accurate impressions that we take of your teeth, they offer a good level of comfort and minimise any risk of spillage onto the soft tissues of the mouth.

The effects of this treatment will last for several months and can be repeated periodically, perfectly safely. Our dental team is always on hand to offer help and advice on this and many other treatments.

Veneers

We haven’t mentioned dental veneers so far as whilst this is a very effective method for achieving whiter teeth, it is the most complex. Generally it would be done only if the previous two options were not viable, or where we advised that this would be the best method for your particular circumstance.

Instead of whitening your teeth, fine porcelain veneers are attached to the front of your teeth, in effect replacing your natural tooth enamel. In most cases, this will require the removal of an equivalent thickness of the enamel although this is not always necessary with some methods. Our local Bedford based dentist will advise.

Veneers are also a great way to restore the appearance of your teeth if they are chipped or cracked. Indeed, even a successful teeth whitening procedure may highlight other flaws in your teeth and this is just one of the reasons why a prior consultation is essential so that you receive the right treatment.

With options for socialising opening up all the time, many of us will want to get back out there safely and looking our best. If you would like to find out how we can help you do so with a more attractive and whiter smile, please call The Dental Centre Bedford on 01234 819868 and arrange an initial consultation with one of our cosmetic dentists.