Is Teeth Whitening Right for Me?

Learn more about what to expect when you get teeth whitening in Camden County.

Here are some questions to ask yourself before visiting your Camden County, NJ dentists Drs. Joseph Sullivan and Jeffrey Turner for teeth whitening.

What kind of dental stains do you have?

While many stains can be successfully treated with professional teeth whitening, not all stains can. External stains that are yellow in color tend to be the easiest to remove with just one session. These stains are usually due to consuming stain-producing foods (e.g. candy) and drinks (e.g. coffee; wine), but can also be due to aging.

Professional teeth whitening won’t be able to completely remove internal stains. These stains are usually gray or blue and are often the result of direct trauma to the teeth or from long-term exposure to antibiotics. Although teeth whitening is not the best way to treat internal dental stains, talk to your Camden County, NJ dentists at Sullivan & Turner about other cosmetic options like veneers that could hide these flaws for good.

Do you have any sensitivities?

If you have tooth or gum sensitivity then you may be a bit wary about professional teeth whitening. While some patients do experience some sensitivity during their treatment, if you tell your Camden County, NJ dentists about your problem ahead of time we can tailor your whitening treatment to your needs. Not all whitening gels are created equally and we can use one that offers the strength to remove surface stains while also being gentle on your smile.

If you are still concerned about how your teeth will respond to the in-office whitening gel, then talk to us about gentler options like our at-home whitening treatment.

How good is your oral care regime?

If you want to keep your smile looking its brightest then you’ll certainly want to spend time maintaining good hygiene. This means brushing your teeth at least twice a day, rinsing between meals and flossing daily. While everyone should be doing this anyway, if you want to see your whitening results truly last then you’ll want to take care of your investment. Talk to your Camden County, NJ dentists about whitening toothpaste or other products you can use from the comfort of your own home to keep your smile looking radiant.

Would you stick to a smile-friendly diet?

One of the biggest culprits of dental stains is certain foods and beverages. From tomato sauce to red wine, all of these things can cause some pretty nasty discolorations. If you want your results to last then you’ll want to cut anything out of your diet that could potentially re-stain your teeth. A good rule of thumb is, if the food or drink would stain a white shirt then it will stain your teeth. Avoid these foods and beverages and your whiter smile will thank you.

If you are interested in getting a whiter smile, then call our practice today to schedule your first whitening session. Give yourself a radiant new smile!