What should you expect during your Zoom! whitening procedure? This laser teeth whitening at
your dentist’s office is relatively quick and simple, making whiter teeth possible in just one
appointment. Here’s what you need to know when it comes to Zoom! teeth whitening.

Before the Procedure

In order to prepare for your Zoom! teeth whitening, most dentists suggest getting a
professional dental cleaning beforehand. Getting your teeth professionally cleaned can help
remove surface stains and enhance the effectiveness and intensity of your teeth whitening.

During your cleaning, you and your dentist can also discuss the shade of white you’d like for
your upcoming whitening procedure. From movie-star white to a subtle but noticeable
difference, your dentist can customize your Zoom! teeth whitening to ensure your smile looks
just how you imagined.

During Your Zoom! Teeth Whitening

Zoom! teeth whitening is an in-office procedure that takes approximately one hour to
complete. The actual time may range from 45 minutes to just a little over one hour.

Before the actual whitening process begins, your dentist will make every effort to protect your
gums from the whitening agent; this means painting a protective material over your gums while
leaving your teeth exposed and ready to be whitened.

Then, the Zoom! teeth whitening material is applied on your teeth and you wear a special pair
of sunglasses to protect your eyes from the laser. Then, the laser is set on your teeth for about
three to four 15-minute sessions.

During this time, you may experience small sensations of sensitivity; these are temporary and
your dentist may apply a fluoride treatment immediately after the procedure to protect against
tooth sensitivity immediately following the procedure.

Immediately Following Your Appointment

Once your whitening process is complete, your mouth will be rinsed out and you can see your
beautiful new smile. Your dentist will also provide you with supplemental take-home trays of
the Zoom! whitening agent to help prolong the beautiful shade of white as time goes on.

In addition, your dentist will advise you to avoid certain foods and drinks for approximately two
days following the procedure—these typically include drinks such as red wine or cola and foods
such as chocolate and tomato sauce. Also, no smoking!

To keep your teeth as white as possible for as long as possible, it’s imperative to keep up with
your oral hygiene, which includes visiting your dentist for checkups. You can protect your
investment in your white teeth with regular professional cleanings in addition to at-home care.

Zoom! professional teeth whitening allows patients to have a bright white smile in as little as 45
minutes at your local dentist’s office. When you want white teeth without the hassle of take-
home options, ask your dentist about Zoom! teeth whitening!

The post What to Expect During Your Zoom! Teeth Whitening Procedure appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Discoloration of teeth can happen gradually over time, but some foods are known to accelerate
the process. These include healthy foods as well as foods that aren’t traditionally considered
healthy.

Any food that has a strong color has the potential to discolor your teeth, so keep an eye out for
the following foods that could be just as bad as coffee when it comes to staining your smile!

1. Berries

Berries are very healthy for you—they contain a powerful punch of antioxidants,
phytonutrients, and vitamin C that can help promote gum health. However, berries such as
blueberries, blackberries, cranberries, and raspberries all have the potential to discolor your
smile.

Unfortunately, this also includes juice made from berries too. Juice consumption should be
minimized because of its high sugar content, but what can you do when you want to enjoy
some healthy berries?

Your best bet is to rinse your mouth with water after consuming berries or sip water while
you’re eating them. This will help reduce the chances of staining until you can safely brush your
teeth—at least 30 minutes after you eat.

2. Sauces

Although not exactly considered a health food, there are numerous types of popular sauces
that can work to stain your teeth. These sauces include:

 Tomato sauce
 Soy sauce
 Curry sauces
 Ketchup
 Sauces or dressings made with balsamic vinegar

Tomatoes have a strong color that can stain teeth, especially if you’re a pasta lover! Soy sauce
has a dark color, as does balsamic vinegar, that can work to discolor teeth. While curry is full of
many beneficial spices, including turmeric, it has a deep yellow color that can quickly stain
teeth.

Not to worry, as most of the staining is temporary, but it can build up over time, especially if
you’re skipping regular cleanings or not brushing your teeth!

3. Beets

Beets, like berries, are very beneficial for your body as well as your smile. They contain vitamin
C, can help fight inflammation with their phytonutrients, and can even help detoxify the body.
Unfortunately, beet juice and the beets themselves can cause discoloration to your teeth on
account of their dark red, almost purplish color. This is especially true if you’re beet fan and eat
beets regularly.

There’s no need to stop eating beets just because they can affect the color of your teeth. In
addition to employing the water trick, you can also try golden beets or striped beets—their
color isn’t as potent as red beets, but you’ll still get most of the same health benefits!

Teeth staining can be minimized by brushing and flossing your teeth every day in addition to
drinking enough water. Of course, regular dental checkups can help remove surface stains at
regular intervals in order to reduce staining and keep your smile bright. For an even brighter
smile, ask your local dentist about a professional whitening to effectively remove deeper stains
and keep your smile beautiful!

The post 3 Surprising Foods That Promote Tooth Discoloration appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening can help your tooth return to its original color, but you shouldn’t start whitening your teeth without first getting the tooth evaluated by your dentist. This is because the inner pulp of your tooth may actually be dead and need to be removed. What this means is that you’ll need a root canal. During your visit, your dentist can perform some tests on your tooth to determine if the root is still alive. If it is, your dentist might suggest waiting another few weeks or months to see if the color comes back on its own. If your tooth continues to be dark or become darker, you can then talk with your dentist about getting a professional whitening done to help restore your appearance.

Root Canal

If the root of your tooth is dead, removing the affected pulp that’s been stained may help reverse the darkening of your tooth. This is because removing the stained area inside your tooth will help the tooth naturally become whiter. However, you’ll only need a root canal if your tooth is actually dead. Any inner pulp that’s dead or infected should be removed by an experienced dentist or in some cases, an endodontist (a dentist who specializes in root canals). Your tooth may die after the injury and require a root canal before any whitening can be done. Fortunately, whitening may not even be necessary once the affected tooth is successfully treated with a root canal!

Crown or Veneer

If your tooth is still alive but it doesn’t return to its normal color in six months, a crown or veneer may be needed to help restore your tooth’s color. Porcelain or ceramic crowns and veneers can help cover your tooth and normalize its appearance. After you receive either a crown or veneer, your tooth will be indistinguishable from the other teeth in your mouth. You may not need any cosmetic dentistry done if a root canal or whitening can be done in its place.

Talk with your dentist about what your treatment options are for an injured tooth that’s suddenly turned gray. A simple whitening could help your darkened tooth, or maybe a root canal is needed to relieve any infection and restore your tooth’s color. Regardless of how your tooth got injured, trust a professional dentist to help you get your smile back!

The post Treatment Options for Tooth Discoloration after Trauma appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Remove Deep Stains

At-home kits can’t take away stains that are below the surface level. Many people have deeper stains in their enamel which will require professional treatment to erase. When you try at-home kits, the best they can do is remove surface stains. This unfortunately still leaves the deeper stains on your teeth and may result in uneven whitening.

Protect Sensitive Teeth

If your teeth are sensitive, this is because some of your enamel has been damaged and is likely missing. This means parts of your teeth are exposed to extreme temperatures and may hurt or feel as though they’re stinging when you eat hot or cold foods. When you have sensitive teeth, getting a whitening is often challenging. This is because at-home kits may remove some of your enamel, especially if they’re not used as directed. When you want whiter teeth but also have sensitive teeth, a professional whitening is best. Your dentist can evaluate your tooth enamel and customize your whitening treatment to minimize any discomfort you’d experience after a traditional whitening.

Get Long-Lasting Results

Whitening kits often take some time to show results and also don’t last as long a professional whitening. The trays in over-the- counter kits are also not custom made for your smile, therefore increasing the chances that the whitening agent will irritate your gum tissue or result in uneven brightening throughout your smile. When you get a professional whitening with your dentist, you achieve long-lasting, effective results. When you’re able to remove deep stains and completely whiten your smile, you get a brighter, whiter smile with no damage!

Takes Less Time and Money

Although at-home kits are cheaper now, they take much longer to work. You’ll need to keep buying whitening kits to see the results you want over time. This leads to many people abusing the whitening kits to achieve a whiter smile, faster. Unfortunately, this can damage enamel and gum tissue when the kits are used this way.

A professional whitening takes significantly less time than the store-bought kits and will save you money over time. Most whitenings can be done in about an hour at your local dentist office. You’ll also not need to waste any more time or money on buying kits that produce subpar results. Get one professional whitening and see dramatic results in just an hour!

When you take advantage of professional whitening services through your dentist, you get results that at-home kits have trouble matching. You can remove deep stains, protect sensitive teeth, and save time and money with long-lasting results. Talk to your dentist about a professional whitening to get the bright smile you’ve been dreaming of!

The post Professional Teeth Whitening: The Ultimate Choice for a Brighter Smile appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

When it comes to dental insurance, every plan will be different. Maybe you have a plan that’ll cover braces or dental bridges, but won’t cover teeth whitening or porcelain crowns. Regardless of what type of dental insurance you have, most dental insurance plans cover at least a portion of cosmetic dentistry. Some plans may even cover the entire procedure, depending on your needed treatment.

Cosmetic dentistry may include porcelain veneers, inlays and onlays, and gum surgery to correct “gummy” smile. Your insurance company may even consider Invisalign, dental implants, and dental bonding for gaps in-between teeth to all be cosmetic dentistry procedures. Talking to your insurance company about what’s covered and what isn’t can help you determine what your out-of- pocket costs will be—if any—and what procedures your plan will fully cover!

Finding a Qualified Dentist Is Crucial

If your insurance plan only covers part of the procedure you want done, you may be tempted to find a less experienced dentist who offers a lower price for your procedure. However, consider the high cost of bad dental work—your smile is priceless. You need a qualified, experienced dentist to complete your dental work. Even if the price is different, you’ll be secure knowing your cosmetic dentistry procedure was done properly and won’t cause you problems later. Although a high-demand dentist may cost more, often, the cost is absolutely worth it.

Ask Your Dentist about Your Options

Maybe you’re set on getting porcelain crowns or veneers, but ceramic will be more budget-friendly and look just as beautiful. Ask your dentist about your options when it comes to cosmetic dentistry. Of course you want a functional smile with an improved appearance, and there’s often more than one way of attaining your goal. Talk to your dentist about any cheaper options that may be available to you. You might be surprised at just how cost-friendly cosmetic dentistry can be!

You can also talk with your dentist’s office about your insurance plan. Often, their staff have experience in working with insurance companies and can help you figure out what your plan will cover. If you find out your plan will only cover part of the procedure, ask them about third-party financing. Often, you can get dental work financed at 0% interest with affordable payment plans!

Getting the smile of your dreams is affordable with cosmetic dentistry—your dental insurance plan should cover at least some of your cosmetic dentistry. By working with an experienced dentist and considering all your options, your perfect smile is more affordable than ever. Schedule an appointment with your local dentist to talk about cosmetic dentistry!

The post Does Dental Insurance Cover Cosmetic Dentistry? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

If you have sensitive teeth, you can still benefit from teeth whitening without having painful side effects such as severe tooth sensitivity. The following are your best teeth whitening options for sensitive teeth!

Professional In-Office Whitening

Getting a professional teeth whitening is always your best option, especially when it comes to sensitive teeth. This is because at-home whitening kits are easy to misuse due to the amount of peroxide in the whitening strips or trays. These aren’t customized for your unique smile and if tooth sensitivity is a problem before you attempt to whiten your teeth, you could make the problem worse by trying to do a professional’s job at home.

Your dentist is the professional best equipped to handle your tooth sensitivity and protect your teeth during the procedure. During a professional whitening, a buffer is generally used in the peroxide gel to protect your tooth’s enamel from any damage. Talk to your dentist about tooth sensitivity before the whitening procedure to ensure maximum protection for your sensitive teeth!

Laser Teeth Whitening

Laser teeth whitening is becoming a popular treatment that provides fast yet dramatic results for your smile. In less than an hour, you can have a completely transformed smile at your dentist’s office! During laser teeth whitening, a higher concentration of peroxide is used and your dentist uses a laser to accelerate the whitening process.

With laser teeth whitening, precautions are taken to prevent tooth sensitivity and protect your teeth. This could include using a desensitizing toothpaste or doing a fluoride treatment after the procedure, as well as fully protecting your gums and teeth from the bleaching agents during the procedure. Laser teeth whitening shortens the length of time your teeth are exposed to the peroxide and can erase stains in as little as 20 minutes!

Fluoride Treatment Post Whitening

Whether you get a traditional in-office teeth whitening or laser teeth whitening, your dentist may choose to do a fluoride treatment after the procedure to minimize the chances of tooth sensitivity and help protect your tooth enamel from damage. Your dentist may also choose to customize your tooth whitening procedure by using a less intense peroxide solution to further protect your sensitive teeth. Talk to your dentist about getting a fluoride treatment post whitening to help alleviate your tooth sensitivity after the procedure!

Getting your teeth whitened is a simple yet effective change that can completely transform your smile. You don’t have to miss out on having brilliantly white teeth just because of tooth sensitivity. Talk to your dentist about laser teeth whitening or a professional teeth whitening with a fluoride treatment afterwards to minimize tooth sensitivity. You can have beautiful white teeth that don’t hurt!

The post The Best Teeth Whitening Options for Sensitive Teeth appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Choose 100% Arabica Coffee

When choosing your coffee, always select coffee that’s made from 100% Arabica beans. You’d ideally want these beans to be dry-processed; this enables them to have less polyphenols that can stain your smile. Arabica coffee also tends to have less caffeine than other types, which means less jitters for you and a whiter smile—a win-win!

Don’t Sip All Day—Or Choose Smaller Serving Sizes

The exposure of your teeth to these polyphenols is what actually causes the staining, so it makes sense that the less time your teeth are exposed to coffee, the less staining you’ll experience. If you’re an all-day coffee drinker, you’re likely to experience the deeper staining that comes with coffee drinking!

Try to limit the amount of time your teeth are exposed to coffee—you can achieve this by limiting yourself to one or two cups in the morning, and then refraining from taking a to-go cup with you to work. You may also choose smaller serving sizes, such as having an espresso rather than a big cup of joe!

Drink with a Straw (Iced Coffee)

Drinking coffee with a straw allows the coffee to effectively bypass your teeth but still allows you to enjoy your favorite beverage. Although drinking hot coffee with a straw is usually not an option, this practice is perfect for iced coffee! You can also choose to enjoy your iced coffee with some milk, a practice that will also help prevent the polyphenols from staining your teeth. Consider opting for iced coffee more often, especially in these warmer months!

Try a French Press

How you brew your coffee can affect the polyphenol content of your morning beverage. If you use powdered coffee or very finely ground coffee, you could be exposing your smile to more of these stain-inducing molecules! Instead, try a French press. This method of brewing is relatively inexpensive—you’ll need to purchase a French press, some only cost $10-$12.

Many people find that using a French press allows more of the coffee’s natural flavor to come through. You’ll also save money on coffee filters and your smile won’t experience as much staining. This is because when using a French press, coarser coffee is used. Give it a try for a whiter smile!

If your teeth are severely stained from coffee, regular brushing may remove the superficial portion of the stains but won’t remove the deeper ones. A professional whitening with your dentist takes only an hour and can remove those unsightly coffee stains for good. After that, try these methods to prevent staining in the future and enjoy your coffee—with a white smile!

The post Coffee and a White Smile: How You Can Have Both appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

What is laser dentistry used for and what are its benefits?

Applications for Laser Dentistry

Laser dentistry can be used for many different procedures by your dentist. The laser can effectively remove tooth decay, therefore easily prepping a tooth for a filling. It can also help dentists conduct a deep cleaning, as we often see necessary with patients who have gum disease. The laser helps to remove the inflamed gum tissue and provides your dentist the opportunity to better restore your smile by aiding with the cleaning process.

Laser dentistry has also been used for gum disease to help control the bacteria in patients’ mouths. Lasers are very effective at reducing bad bacteria and helping your mouth to heal. Dentists have been using laser dentistry for root canal treatments as well. Lasers help to properly clean the infection out of your tooth’s root and therefore allow for more success when treating your infection and helping you to heal afterwards.

Laser dentistry is also used to speed up tooth whitening in your dentist office, therefore reducing the amount of time the peroxide bleaching solution sits on your teeth and further protecting your enamel. Laser dentistry will likely be used for even more applications in the future!

Benefits of Laser Dentistry

There are numerous benefits of laser dentistry which attract both dentists wanting to become more experienced in conducting the procedure and patients. There’s often no drill needed and patients find the experience to be more comfortable and pleasant. Lasers also allow your dentist to be more precise and to minimize damage done to other tissues during your procedure.

Lasers allow patients to have a faster healing time as a result of this and minimal issues post-surgery. Lasers can even be used to help control bleeding during your procedure, therefore enhancing the level of precision your dentist is able to exercise and helping you to enjoy a faster healing time.

Where Can You Get It Done?

Not every dentist is practiced in laser dentistry; however, more and more oral health care specialists are becoming certified in laser dentistry procedures and gaining experience to better serve you. If you have concerns about laser dentistry as used in your procedure, talk with your dentist about his or her experience and credibility.

Laser dentistry is becoming a popular practice for dentists who want greater control, less bleeding, and minimal damage to oral tissues when it comes to dental procedures. Ask your dentist if laser dentistry is an option for your next procedure!

The post Laser Dentistry for Revolutionary Results appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

The “Don’t” List

Here are some of the things you need to avoid. These are the main culprits when it comes to staining teeth.

Quit Smoking – Smoking is the absolute worst thing you can do for the coloration of your teeth. Nothing else will stain teeth faster than cigarette smoke. Quitting is not easy, but this is just one more reason to do it.

Foods to Avoid – Try to keep foods with dark pigmentation to a minimum. For example, ice pops or hard candies that are filled with dark dyes will stain your teeth. You know the ones we mean. They turn your tongue, teeth, and lips blue, green, or purple.

Beverages to Avoid – Unfortunately, favorites like coffee, black tea, colas, and red wine are all tough on tooth coloration. Keep reading for some tips on how to enjoy your favorite beverages safely.

The “Do” List

Here are some things that you can do to keep your teeth white for as long as possible.

Use a Straw – Try having your coffee or tea iced. Drinking it through a straw will minimize contact with front teeth. Less time on the enamel means less time for staining to take place.

Brush Often – If you brush your teeth after each meal, you keep those stain-causing foods and drinks from staying in contact with your teeth.

Rinse or Drink Water – If you can’t brush, rinsing with or drinking water is the next best thing. Just get as much food and drink off your teeth as possible until the next time you can get to a toothbrush.

Get a Touch Up – If you follow the suggestions here, touch ups may be a year or two apart. If you can’t stay away from your regular cup of coffee (without a straw) or other staining habits, you may need to get a touch up every six months. Your dentist can recommend a schedule to help maintain the pearly whiteness of your smile.

If you follow the tips here, you can flash a glistening, white smile every time a camera comes out.

The post Maintaining Your Newly Whitened Smile appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

1. Apples – An apple a day keeps more than just the doctor away. Apples are also good for your teeth. How can this be? After all, apples are mostly sugar, right? The fact is that apples are really good at increasing the amount of saliva produced. Saliva keeps the amount of bacteria in your mouth low. This is really true of most fresh fruits and vegetables, so if apples aren’t your favorite, you can eat more carrots, celery, or other crisp foods.

2. Xylitol Sweetened Gum – Xylitol is a natural sweetener and is superior to sugar and artificial sweeteners when it comes to oral health. Xylitol actually fights the bacteria that many other sweeteners promote.

3. Milk – When you hear milk is good for teeth, your first thought may be that calcium is the most important factor. While calcium is good for your teeth and bones, that’s not why milk makes the list. Milk acts as a base in the body, meaning that it raises the pH level in your mouth. Since bacteria in the mouth thrive on an acidic pH, drinking milk works against sugars and other acidic foods. In fact, one study showed that when milk is imbibed after a bowl of sweet cereal, teeth are helped to resist decay.

4. Unsweetened Tea – Green and black tea both fight bacteria that is commonly formed in the mouth. Unfortunately, adding sugar to the tea negates these benefits, so you may have to switch to unsweet depending on how you presently drink your tea. Tea not only delays that formation of plaque, but it also helps keep gums healthy.

5. Water – Adding more water to your diet can wash bacteria from the mouth, keeping your teeth cleaner between brushings, and raise pH levels, thus restricting plaque formation. Also, tap water often has higher levels of fluoride. Of course, bottled water may have fluoride removed, but you can fix that by the brand of toothpaste you choose. The fact is that fluoride is not the reason you need to add more water to your diet.

The post Prevent Tooth Decay with these Delicious Foods and Beverages appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.