Your teeth can lose their shine for several reasons, including:

• Poor oral hygiene
• Drinking too many darkly pigmented drinks, like coffee, tea, or soda
• Consuming tobacco products
• Certain medications
• Early exposure to tetracycline antibiotics

Age also plays a role in the color of your teeth. The soft inner layer of your teeth (dentin) naturally yellows as you age, while the hard, outer layer of your teeth (enamel) wears thin over time and can cast you in a bad light.

The thickness of your enamel is an inherited trait, so the color of your teeth is also determined by your genetics.

Your smile is a reflection of who you are, and dull or discolored teeth can cast you in a bad light. Professional teeth whitening treatments at our dental clinic in Apple Valley are one of the most effective ways to improve the appearance of your teeth, giving you a younger look, a prettier smile, and a boost of confidence.

Brite Smiles Dental Care offers a few options when it comes to professionally whitening your teeth:

In-office whitening with Philips Zoom!

In-office whitening, or chairside whitening, takes place entirely at the Brite Smiles Dental Care office. Dr. Simmons or Dr. Edstrom prepares your mouth for whitening by protecting your gums and lips, then carefully applies a layer of professional-strength whitening gel to your teeth.

Next, they shine a special light on your smile that helps the whitening gel penetrate your teeth and break up deeper stains. Treatment with Philips Zoom!® can make your smile up to eight shades whiter in a single two and ½ hour office visit!

Take-home whitening trays

At-home bleaching trays enable you to whiten your teeth from the comfort of your own home. Your Apple Valley dentist uses an impression of your smile to fabricate custom-designed bleaching trays that fit around the unique contours of your teeth.

You fill these trays with a professional-grade bleaching solution and then wear them on your teeth for a prescribed amount of time each day. You’ll have a noticeably brighter smile in a matter of weeks.

To maintain your white smile, it is essential to practice good oral hygiene and avoid habits such as smoking or consuming stain-causing foods and beverages. Our dentists can also provide you with touch-up treatments to keep your smile looking bright and beautiful. With regular dental visits and proper care, your professional teeth whitening results can last for up to a year or more.

You should never whiten your teeth with store-bought products. Over-the-counter whitening kits may appear convenient and affordable, but they’re ineffective at best and potentially harmful to your oral health.

The strips and trays used in these whitening kits aren’t designed for your unique smile, so the bleaching solution frequently leaks out and irritates your gums. The whitening gel is not nearly as effective on your teeth as what you get at Brite Smiles Dental Care, leaving you with less effective results.