Learn About the Differences Between Dental Teeth Whitening and Whats in the Store

With so many options in teeth whitening solutions is can often be hard to decide what the best treatment method is. Dentists have been working with patients for years in an effort to get whiter, and more importantly, healthier teeth so we know the best way to get the brighter smile you have been looking for. With smiles being important for confidence, it is important that you get the teeth whitening solution that is best suited for you and will quickly give you that smile you have always wanted. While some store bought solutions can have the same effect, there are distinct differences that you should be aware of when deciding how to proceed with teeth whitening. 

Are the chemicals used in teeth whitening the same over the counter as at the dentist’s office?

The main ingredient in teeth whitening is hydrogen peroxide, which serves to remove stains and whiten teeth. In some store bought solutions, there is carbamide peroxide, which consists largely of hydrogen peroxide. The solution that we use at the dentist’s office also has hydrogen peroxide. That is where the similarities end. The chemical make-up of the solution that one can purchase from the store consists of around 3% hydrogen peroxide. This means that you will get whiter teeth, but the process will take longer. On the other hand, dentists have at our disposal gels that have a significantly higher percentage of hydrogen peroxide. Because of the high strength of the bleaching agent, only medical professionals can administer these gels. A dentist can use solutions which have between 15% and 43% hydrogen peroxide and will take care to protect your gums and soft tissue from coming in contact with them so as to ensure that you do not have irritation. 

Some store bought solutions use dental trays, isn’t this the same as the dentist office teeth whitening process?

Using trays is the most effective way of whitening your teeth. Fundamentally a tray is designed to fit over your teeth and stay in place.  This allows for you (or your dentist) to place the teeth whitening gel into the tray and bring it in direct contact with the teeth. As a result, both dentists and over the counter solutions use them. There are differences, however, between the two.

When we make you a tray at our dentist office, it is designed specifically for your mouth. To do this, we will take an impression of your teeth and then use that as a mold to create a custom tray which will fit exactly over your teeth. What this does is it reduces the ability of the gel to come in contact with your gums or soft tissue. It also ensures that the gel remains in contact with your teeth for the most amount of time, leading to better results. On the other hand, the product bought at the store provides you with a one size fits all tray. While this may fit your mouth perfectly, it could also leave gaps which could result in the gel leaking and coming in contact with your gums which can lead to irritation. 

Regardless of what solution you chose, it is always recommended that you meet with your dentist first to discuss your options. This allows you to make an informed decision and reach out to your doctor if some form of irritation should occur while using an over the counter teeth whitening solution. 

It’s Time for Football and Perhaps an Emergency Dentist?

With the arrival of fall sports, an emergency dentist is busier than ever. Most people don’t realize how dangerous playing sports can be for your teeth.  Even a recreational game of football or pickup game of basketball can end with a broken tooth and need for help right away.  According to the American Dental Association, sports injuries are one of the highest, if not the highest, cause of tooth injuries within the U.S.  Additionally, sports injuries lead to 13 to 39 percent of adult tooth loss on an annual basis.  This is a huge percentage when you consider how few adults play organized sports. Even a casual game can lead to an injury.

There are ways to protect your teeth this fall and throughout your lifetime.  Begin by keeping your teeth healthy.  When teeth and gums are free from infection and gum disease, they are stronger than teeth that are infected.  When you think of your teeth, consider a pond that has been frozen over after months of cold winter.  When the ice is solid, it is safe to skate on that pond and hours of fun can be had by children throughout the neighborhood.  When that same pond has a tiny crack, simply walking on it can lead to the ice shattering and someone falling into the icy cold water.  Teeth are similar in that when they are strong and infection free, they won’t break when used or even bumped into.  If, however, there is a small crack or cavity, that same tooth can experience major damage if hit while playing sports.

In order to avoid needing to take a trip to the emergency dentist, we recommend that our patients have their teeth cleaned twice a year so that we can remove bacteria and plaque in order to prevent cavities and gum disease.  If we notice any signs of infection, it can be treated right away so that your teeth can stay strong and healthy.  This preventative step is critical for maintaining strong teeth.

If, however, your tooth does become damaged – we offer restorative solutions that can repair your tooth so that you can eat and speak like normal, without pain.  If, for example, your tooth has been cracked we can use a dental veneer or dental crown to restore it.  A veneer is a thin shell that is placed on top of your existing tooth and good for small cracks or chips.  A crown is a cap that surrounds the tooth and a better option for a tooth with a major crack or one that has lost a significant amount of enamel.  We can also help if your tooth has fallen out.  We offer both dental bridges and dental implants as a way to replace a missing tooth.

Regardless of how your teeth have been damaged, as an emergency dentist we can repair your tooth and help you to get back to life and back in the game as quickly as possible.  If you need help – give us a call, even if it’s on the weekend. 

Wine Drinkers Rejoice – A Cosmetic Dentist Can Keep Your Teeth Looking Beautiful

As a local cosmetic dentist, we can keep our patients’ teeth looking bright, white, and beautiful regardless of what they like to drink.  Most wine and coffee drinkers know that their teeth can become stained but giving up their favorite beverage is simply no fun.  We get it and provide ways to help our patients look great while enabling them to enjoy eating and drinking all of their favorite foods without worry. 

One of the ways we help our patients is by offering a teeth whitening procedure.  This can be done every three months or once a year, depending on how your teeth look now and how white you want your teeth to become. This is an affordable way to keep your teeth looking amazing and will remove the majority of stains while turning yellow teeth into bright white ones.  The challenge with teeth whitening alone is that some stains may not come out with this procedure and in between visits your teeth may become yellow again.  This is not ideal for people that want to continue to drink wine and coffee or smoke cigarettes.  While the whitening effect works, once you start doing these things again – teeth will respond by yellowing.  

Dental veneers are an alternative solution that is excellent for people who want to keep drinking wine without the fear of their teeth becoming stained. Veneers are made of ceramic or porcelain which are stain resistant materials. They don’t respond to the food that you eat or your favorite glass of merlot. Instead, they hold their shade of white fairly well.  This makes it important to work with a cosmetic dentist to select the perfect shade of veneers prior to having them bonded to your teeth.  

The veneer itself is a thin shell that is placed on the top of your natural teeth.  It can cover dark stains, close gaps in teeth, correct damaged teeth, even out the length of teeth and more.  It is an extremely effective procedure and works well if you have teeth that are not responding to whitening, or you want a more permanent way to keep your teeth white.  

Patients that also have damaged teeth may benefit from wearing dental crowns.  We offer crowns in an all-ceramic material that looks completely natural.  They are a cap that surrounds the tooth entirely, making a crown ideal for teeth that are cracked, or a large portion of the tooth is missing. Since they are made in a ceramic or porcelain material, they look beautiful and are also stain resistant.  

Before having dental veneers or crowns placed on your teeth, we recommend that you have your teeth cleaned and whitened.  This allows us to ensure your teeth are healthy and remove any bacteria or plaque.  Additionally, by having your teeth whitened you can make an educated decision as to which teeth you want to have veneers on.  You may only need them on one or two teeth, instead of all of them.  To learn more about your options, call our cosmetic dentist office today. 

Old Town Dentistry is the Best Dentist for Treating Gum Disease

We are the best dentist in town for treating gum disease because we start by focusing on preventative care.  Having your teeth cleaned and examined twice a year is essential for staying in good oral health because it allows our dental hygienist to remove bacteria and plaque from on and around your teeth and gums.  No matter how diligent you are about brushing at home, there are places in your mouth that are difficult to reach without the help of a professional.

Gum disease is typically caused by a lack of oral hygiene and access to dental care. You can take preventative measures by brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing daily.  Flossing is particularly important for the health of your gums as it can remove plaque from the area near the bottom of your teeth.  You can also use an antiseptic mouthwash to help kill bacteria.

Some people are at higher risk of gum disease.  This includes people with diabetes, those who smoke and use smokeless tobacco products.  If you are in this category, it is wise to have your teeth cleaned more than twice a year in order to prevent an infection from forming.  Patients trust Old Town Dentistry as the best dentist in town for preventing infections and treating them quickly if they do develop.

Gingivitis is gum disease in its initial stage.  When caught early during routine dental exams it can be treated by performing a deep cleaning of the gums.  Bacteria are removed from on, around, and underneath the gum line.  This can be done fairly quickly and with minimal discomfort.  The benefit to having a deep cleaning performed is that the gums will typically heal themselves once the bacteria is removed.  This is the best stage to catch and treat gum disease because it won’t interfere with an active lifestyle like advanced stages will.

When gum disease is left untreated, the gums will start to recede.  Teeth will start to appear longer and larger as the gums shrink away.  They will also become red, swollen, and may bleed.  The further they recede the more at risk a person is for additional complications.  Pockets can form in the gum tissue which will expose the tooth and root system.  Bacteria can then start to attack the tooth creating a need for a root canal or even causing the tooth to fall out.  In order to treat this a gum graft may need to be done to close up the pocket and secure the gums back into place.

Catching and treating gum disease early is important and makes it possible to avoid more complex procedures.  Old Town Dentistry is the best dentist in Alexandria because we understand the importance of helping our patients to avoid oral pain and complications.  We are diligent about identifying signs and symptoms of developing conditions so that treatment can begin immediately before complications arise.  To schedule an appointment call our office at (703) 683-0800.

Studies Link Teeth Whitening to How Attractive People Think You Are

As a dentist, teeth whitening procedures are a tool we use to help our patients improve their smile and overall appearance.  This is a non-invasive way of doing so and is both convenient and affordable for our patients.  For years, we have seen the dramatic results that whitening teeth can make to a person’s appearance and how attractive they consider themselves to be.  Now, there is evidence that a beautiful smile also impacts how the world sees you.

Oral-B makes a variety of products for people to use on their teeth and gums.  They also have a sizeable research department and recently completed a study where the polled 2,000 people in an attempt to find out if a beautiful smile impacts how attractive a person is and if so, by how much.  They found that people with a beautiful smile were thought to be 20 percent more attractive and five years younger than they actually were.  This is an important study because it quantified the type of impact improving your smile can make in your overall appearance.

The University of California conducted further research that was not specific to smiles but focused on finding out whether or not being attractive actually made a difference in how successful someone was.  The results clearly indicated that it does.  They found that when a person was considered attractive they typically made 12 percent more money than their peers in addition to being perceived as a better team player and more helpful.  The better looking a person is, the more successful they are at work – statistically that is.  Information provided by Match.com completes the picture.  They found that after polling 5,000 men and women, both sexes thought that a beautiful smile was the most attractive quality in a person.  Fortunately, this is easy to achieve with a teeth whitening procedure.

According to these and other studies, physical appearance can make an impact on a person’s life.  Being attractive has to start with being healthy.  This applies to the health of your body and your mouth.  Regular teeth cleanings can keep your teeth and gums free from an infection, help to prevent teeth from becoming damaged, and prevent future tooth loss.  When teeth and gums are healthy they will naturally look more attractive.

Teeth whitening can produce dramatic results in healthy teeth.  Our professional whitening procedure can whiten teeth by up to eight shades, turning a dull and boring smile into something bright and beautiful.  This is by far the simplest way to improve your smile and is also affordable.  We start by making a mold of your mouth so that customized whitening trays can be created in the lab.  These plastic trays will fit your teeth snuggly and securely so that when whitening solution is added they will stay in place and not fall out.  The whitening solution should be worn for several hours at night until the desired results are achieved.  This typically takes a week or two.  Patients who want to whiten their teeth faster can do so using our in-office whitening procedure that takes around an hour to complete. The end result of both is a beautiful smile that can statistically improve your life in multiple ways.

Your Local Alexandria Dentist Can Prevent Bad Breath

If you struggle with bad breath a trip to the dentist can help.  This is a common issue that many people deal with.  Unfortunately when bad breath becomes excessive it can ruin a conversation, cause people to become embarrassed, and present an overall impression of bad health.  That impression may not be so far from the truth.  Bad breath can be a sign of an infection, oral or otherwise. 

Statistically 80 percent of bad breath comes from something inside of the mouth. The other 20 percent is likely caused by a respiratory infection.  If you are not feeling well and have constant bad breath you should call your physician to see if you need to be taking medication.  A lingering sinus infection is one of the health issues that can lead to bad breath and it can easily be treated with a course of antibiotics. 

If you are otherwise in good health, your bad breath is caused by an oral health or hygiene issue.  This is something your dentist can directly help you with.  At Old Town Dentistry we recommend that patients have their teeth cleaned at least twice a year.  This allows our dental hygienist to remove lingering bacteria and plaque from on and in between teeth as well as along the gum line.  Bacteria and plaque can create a foul smelling odor, especially when trapped in between teeth.  This is partly why flossing is so important removing bacteria and plaque which will greatly reduce bad breath.  

After your teeth cleaning our dentist will inspect your teeth and gums to determine if there are any infections or tooth decay – both can create bad breath.  These are two major oral health issues that may naturally produce a bad smell because they are a sign of something being infected inside of your mouth.  Just like an infection in the rest of your body can create an odor, this can as well. Treating it will help you to feel better along with reducing these symptoms. 

In addition to regular visits to the dentist there are several things you can do to improve your breath at home including:

• Drinking more water.   Saliva is the body’s natural way of washing away bacteria and food particles.  While it doesn’t work 100 percent of the time, it does make a major impact.  So much so that people with little saliva are diagnosed with a condition called dry mouth.  This creates bad breath and puts people at risk for cavities.  You can prevent it by drinking plenty of water. 
• Brushing after meals.  Carry a soft toothbrush with you and use it after eating.  This will remove bacteria, food particles, and any lingering smells created after eating. Even a quick brush will work wonders and make sure to brush your tongue since smells can become trapped there. 
• Flossing every day.  If you want good breath, flossing every day is not negotiable.  To find out if you are flossing enough, use this simple test.  Wash your hands and floss your teeth.  If your fingers stink afterwards it has probably been too long since you flossed.

Implementing a good oral hygiene routine at home and visiting the dentist twice a year will help you decrease your bad breath.  To learn more schedule an appointment with Old Town Dentistry today.

Teeth Whitening for Your Special Day

Old Town Dentistry provides teeth whitening for your special day or big event.  If you are getting married, going on the trip of a lifetime, graduating, or celebrating a major event, do so with a smile you can be proud of.  Many people are embarrassed about their smile and a common complaint is yellow or stained teeth.  Over time it is easy for teeth to become stained, especially for smokers, coffee, tea, and wine drinkers.  Brushing alone cannot remove stains or restore teeth to their original appearance.  Fortunately, we offer a solution that does. 

There are several ways to whiten your teeth.  Using special toothpaste or buying over the counter strips, are a readily available option.  The challenge with these methods is that they do not make a large difference.  They can typically only whiten teeth by up to two shades and are best as a maintenance step in between professional treatments. 

If you are looking for dramatic results you will need professional teeth whitening.  Old Town Dentistry provides a variety of cosmetic dentistry solutions and this is one of the most popular.  Patients who want to transform their smile should start with this simple procedure because it makes such a large impact in a short amount of time.  We even provide a way for people to whiten their teeth at their own convenience. We can take a mold of a patient’s mouth and create custom whitening trays in our office.  These trays fit perfectly and surround your upper and bottom teeth.  When you are at home, simply insert the professional grade whitening gel into the trays and secure them into place.  They should be worn for a couple of hours for ten days. Afterwards, you will have stunning white teeth. 

At Old Town Dentistry, we understand that our patients are busy. With appointments to run to, meetings to keep, family life, and more, it can be difficult to head to the dentist to whiten your teeth.  By offering an at-home solution we provide a way for our patients to love their smile regardless of where in the world they find themselves.  Simply pack your teeth whitening trays and go. 

For most people a simple teeth whitening treatment will produce the results that they need to feel confident enough to smile for pictures.  This will make your special day more memorable since your teeth will be beautiful in person and in photos.  If after whitening your teeth you still aren’t satisfied with your smile, schedule an appointment to discuss cosmetic procedures. There are several ways that we can create a stunning smile.  For example, dental veneers can be placed on top of your existing teeth to cover dark stains, close gaps, make teeth even, and even straighten them.  Teeth that are severely crooked or need to be replaced may benefit from dental implants.  Implants are a permanent solution for replacing teeth that look perfectly natural and beautiful.  Those who want to straighten all of their teeth should try Invisalign.  These are only a few of the dental procedures we perform on a daily basis.  To learn more or to purchase your custom teeth whitening trays, schedule an appointment with Old Town Dentistry today.