Are Teeth-Whitening Treatments Safe?

Every day, we encounter a number of questions related to various teeth whitening treatments and procedures. Those questions include:

• Can teeth whitening damage your teeth? 

• Is it safe to have teeth whitened?

• Does tooth whitening damage enamel?

• What are the side effects of teeth whitening? 

• How can I whiten my teeth overnight? 

• How can I make my yellow teeth naturally whiter? 

Apart from these questions, you may have many more queries on the same. Perhaps, you are curious to find the correct answers. We understand your curiosity, and as a responsible dental specialist, we think all your questions must be answered. Therefore, we have written this blog to answer all your questions related to teeth whitening. It will also give you clarity over teeth whitening treatments and procedures. Let’s go deeper!

Are Teeth Whitening Treatments and Procedures Safe for Your Teeth? 

First, we have to learn about various teeth whitening treatments that dentists mostly use to whiten and brighten patients’ teeth. Let’s have a look at those whitening treatments. 

Tray Bleaching- Tray bleaching is one of the most commonly used teeth whitening treatments. It involves a custom-made teeth tray filled with a hydrogen peroxide-based bleaching gel. 

The hydrogen peroxide-based bleaching gel is a strong chemical that plays the most crucial role in whitening your teeth. This teeth whitening treatment is mainly performed at dental offices by a teeth whitening dentist in McKinney.

Laser Teeth Whitening- Laser teeth whitening (ZOOM) can whiten your teeth within a few hours. During the laser whitening process, a specialized dentist places a concentrated bleaching gel over your teeth and then uses a laser to heat and activate the bleaching gel. This process removes the stubborn stains and yellowness from your teeth quickly. 

Over the Counter Products- OTC teeth whitening products involves whitening strips, whitening toothpaste, whitening mouthwash, whitening pens, and whitening light devices. These products are also widely used for whitening teeth, but patients usually use these products at their homes. 

Now, coming to the main point, if we talk about tray bleaching, it involves only a small concentration of strong chemicals, which is not harmful to your teeth. Apart from this, the tray bleaching treatment process is performed by teeth whitening specialists at dental offices. So, it would be safe to say that tray bleaching is completely safe for your teeth. 

However, if you inappropriately use tray bleaching by yourself at your home, it could be harmful to your teeth. It can cause gum irritation, mouth infections, and damage to teeth enamel.

Coming to laser teeth whitening (ZOOM), it wouldn’t be safe to say that laser teeth whitening is completely harmless for your teeth because it involves chemical-containing bleaching gel and an intense and painful laser heating process. The laser heating process extremely heats up your teeth, leading to some specific infections, irritation in gums, tooth sensitivity, and tooth cracks. 

Dentists usually recommend teeth whitening treatment to only those who can bear the heat in their mouth for at least two hours. 

Lastly, if we talk about over-the-counter teeth whitening products, they are completely safe to use with proper consultation. They involve lesser chemicals and risks. 

Now, you might have got the answer to most of your questions related to teeth whitening treatment risks. Let’s discuss some more questions and try to find out their answers. 

How Can I Whiten My Teeth Overnight? 

Laser teeth whitening treatment is the only solution to whiten your teeth overnight. It just takes one to two hours. However, it may lead to many specific dental problems, such as gum burn, lip burn, tooth sensitivity, tooth cracks, etc. So, if you are planning to undergo a laser teeth whitening treatment, make sure to first consult with your dentist. He/she will suggest whether laser teeth whitening is a good option for you or not. 

How Can I Make My Yellow Teeth Naturally Whiter? 

You can naturally whiten your teeth using various home-made remedies and following a healthy routine. Some of the best ways to whiten your teeth naturally are: 

• Practice Oil-Pulling 

• Use Hydrogen Peroxide-based Toothpaste

• Brush Your Teeth with Baking Soda

• Avoid Unhealthy Foods and Drinks

• Eat More Vegetables and Fruits 

• Floss Your Teeth Routinely 

• Rinse Your Mouth After Every Meal 

Which is the Safest and Most Effective Teeth Whitening Treatment? 

Consider the benefits, effectiveness, and risks of different teeth whitening treatments. We could suggest that it will be safe to use custom tray bleaching treatment. It is a perfect solution for every dental patient who wants whiter and brighter teeth. It does not lead to any side-effect if this process is done appropriately and under the supervision of an experienced and specialist teeth whitening dentist. So, you can choose this teeth whitening option over others. 

Now, we hope you have got almost all the answers to your questions related to teeth whitening. Keep all these things in mind and make sure to choose teeth whitening treatments carefully. 

Dos and Don’ts of Wearing Invisalign Braces

You might have got Invisalign because you always wanted to get that perfect smile. Though it is an expensive treatment to get perfect dental structure, there are so many things that you have to do to get quick results. Valley Creek Dental Care, one of the best Invisalign specialists in McKinney, has shared important information that every Invisalign user must know. We have also shared a few instructions and ways to keep your aligners in great condition. Here are some important dos and don’ts of wearing Invisalign and the best ways to keep them clean.

Dos of Invisalign

·         Wear Your Invisalign Aligners For 22 Hours Per Day: Many people questions about Invisalign’s results. The fact is that yes, they give desired results but only if you wear them continuously. They exert steady yet gentle pressure on the teeth to shift them into the place. If you don’t wear them at least 22 hours a day, you may not find the desired results. Experts recommend them wearing for at least 20 to 22 hours per day. You should take them out only when you are brushing your teeth, drinking, or eating.

·         Clean Your Invisalign Braces Regularly: If you don’t clean your aligners daily, plaque and bacteria will start accumulating on them as you wear them without cleaning. All you need to do is gently brush your aligners with a soft-bristled toothbrush and then rinse them with lukewarm water. You have to repeat this procedure two times a day, i.e., in the morning and night. Always rinse them before you put them back into your mouth after meals. You can get cleaning products that are ideal for aligners. They are nice but not a necessity.

·         Brush Your Teeth After Eating Anything And Before Putting Your Aligners Back:  Aligners can easily trap any food debris and liquid. It will then sit against your teeth as saliva doesn’t flow freely. This could lead to tooth decay. If you really wish to keep your smile happy and healthy, brush your teeth or at least rinse your mouth after a meal or even if you drink anything for that matter. Make sure you do that before you put your aligners back after drinking or eating.

·         Soak Your Trays Everyday: To ensure that your aligner trays are as clean as possible, make sure you soak them in Invisalign cleaning crystals or a denture cleaner. Once soaking is done, clean them with a separate toothbrush to remove food particles or lingering plaque, if any. Rinse them again before you put them into your mouth.

·         Always Store Your Aligners In Invisalign Case: Make sure you store your Invisalign braces in the aligner case. This is the most important tip to consider. Since they are clear, they can be accidentally thrown away. Moreover, your pets could grab them and damage them such that you have to spend extra to get the new ones. This is going to be a costly affair.

Don’ts of Invisalign

·         Don’t Leave Your Aligners In The Open Air When You Are Not Using Them: Never leave your trays exposed to open air as it could lead to bacteria buildup. Moreover, you can easily lose open trays as they are transparent and cannot be seen easily. If in case you leave them out for a while, make sure you rinse them before you put them into your mouth. Soak them for a while in a suitable cleanser and then rinse them again if you think they look dirty.

·         Don’t Forget To Take Off Your Aligners While Eating And Drinking: Never eat and drink with Invisalign aligners except drinking plain water. These aligners cannot withstand the pressure of chewing food. Also, food and drinks can get trapped between your teeth and aligners. This will put you at risk for cavities but also stain your teeth. Drinking and eating with aligners on will also cause discoloration of trays. They will lose their transparency and become pale, which will look bad.

·         Never Expose Your Aligners To Heat: If you rinse your aligners in hot water, or drink a hot beverage while putting them on or leave them in a hot place, your aligners can wrap. This will affect the fitting of your trays which could ultimately impact your results. Make sure you keep them away from heat. If you are rinsing them, ensure that the water is lukewarm, not steaming hot. Always take them out of your mouth while drinking any hot beverage.

·         Never Ever Use Harsh Cleansers On Your Aligners: If you clean your aligners with toothpaste, it may scratch them. Scratches will make them more noticeable when you wear them. Avoid harsh soaps, chemicals, and colored products to wash and rinse your trays. These can damage them and even cause discoloration. They probably won’t look and taste great when you put them back in.

If you think you need more help on this, feel free to call us. We will be more than happy to help you with detailed information about Invisalign treatment and maintenance. Those who want to know more about Invisalign treatment can contact us for the same. 

Everything You Need To Know About Teeth Whitening and Bleaching

Do you want to get rid of your paled and stained teeth. Do you really wish to have a bright smile? If yes, this comprehensive guide could be useful for you. 

When it comes to teeth whitening, you mainly have two options; In-Office teeth whitening and At-Homes teeth whitening. Both these options are effective in whitening your teeth. You can choose any of these options depending on your teeth whitening requirements and preferences. 

These whitening treatments or procedures excessively use hydrogen peroxide-based bleaching agents, which are the primary teeth whitening chemical. The longer you will keep hydrogen peroxide-based bleaching agent applied on the surface of your teeth, the whiter and brighter teeth you will get. However, suppose this chemical is relatively high; in that case, it is better to keep it over the teeth for a shorter time. It can dehydrate your teeth and trigger tooth sensitivity.  

In-office-based teeth whitening treatment contains 15% to 43% hydrogen peroxide, while at-home teeth whitening includes 3% to 20% hydrogen peroxide. It means in-office-based teeth whitening treatment and procedures are more effective than at-home whitening kits.

In-Office Based Teeth Whitening and Bleaching 

In-office teeth whitening treatment is performed by whitening dentists in McKinney TX. It is mainly performed in two different ways; ZOOM whitening (sometimes also called laser whitening) and tray bleaching. 

ZOOM Whitening- The ZOOM whitening treatment method is the most effective way to whiten and brighten discolored teeth. The dentist does it by using a laser whitening system.

With this teeth whitening method, you can get 5 to 8 shades of whiter and brighter teeth within one or two hours. It is the fastest way to get a shining white smile.

The ZOOM whitening treatment is ideal for those dental patients who want to get immediate whitening results. However, this method is not entirely safe for dental health as it can lead to certain side-effects. 

It increases the teeth' temperature, leading to sensitivity issues, and sometimes burns the gums. If you choose this option, it can be risky for you. So, it would be best if you first consult with your concerned dentist. 

Tray Bleaching- In-office-based tray bleaching method is the most popular and preferred teeth whitening treatment. In most whitening dental clinics, this method is used as a primary teeth whitening treatment. 

While using this method, a whitening dentist uses a combination of custom-made trays and whitening gel. He/she places the whitening gel on the custom-made tray and then perfectly places that tray on the patient's teeth for 30 to 60 minutes. In this period, the peroxide in the gel breaks down, and hydroxy radicals start interacting with the teeth' surface. This process helps in removing the yellowness and stains from the teeth and brings the natural shine to the front. 

This in-office-based tray bleaching method can give you eight shades of whiter and brighter teeth. However, for that, you will have to take several 30 to 60 minutes treatment sessions with your whitening dentist. 

In-office-based tray bleaching is a perfect teeth whitening treatment for those dental patients who can afford multiple dental office visits with a 30 to 60 minutes treatment session with a whitening dentist. 

Tray bleaching has no side-effects if it is done appropriately. You can also perform it at your home at your own convenience. 

At-Home Teeth Whitening 

At-Home teeth whitening option is especially for those dental patients who prioritize convenience more than anything else. The patient itself performs this type of whitening treatment at its own convenience at home. Sometimes, a patient's friend or family members can perform this teeth whitening procedure to make it convenient.  

At-home whitening treatment and procedures can be performed using many different teeth whitening kits and over-the-counter products, such as whitening strips, whitening toothpaste, mouthwash, etc. You can get these teeth whitening kits and over-the-counter products only from whitening dentists. You will not find these products in your local market. 

This teeth whitening method involves: 

• Tray Bleaching 

• Paint-On Teeth Whiteners

• Teeth Whitening Stripes

• Teeth Whitening Toothpaste and Mouthwash 

Out of these At-Home teeth whitening methods, tray bleaching has been the most effective and fastest teeth whitening solution. If you want to choose At-Home teeth whitening, you should select tray bleaching. It would be the best option for you. 

Which Option Should You Choose? 

Considering the effectiveness and benefits of an in-office-based whitening solution, it won't be wrong to say that in-office-based whitening treatment is the best option for you. It would be best if you consider it over an at-home teeth whitening kit. However, it also depends on your requirements and preferences. 

For example- if you are not convenient with having multiple dental office visits for treatment, in-office-based whitening is not perfect for you. In this type of case, you can opt for at-home whitening treatment.  

In the end, we hope this piece of information has been interesting and useful for you. For such more qualitative and informative pieces of reading on dental health, keep in touch with us. 

Cavities In Kids: What Do You Need To Know To Prevent Another One In Future

Tooth decay or cavity is the breakdown of a tooth's enamel, a hard outer surface present on a tooth. Tooth decay could lead to cavities, which means it could lead to holes in the teeth. This thing gets serious when your child gets cavities as it questions your care. It could be dreading news for you. Please don't blame yourself as it is not your fault at all. 

Tooth decay is caused by bacteria that are formed when food containing carbohydrates is left on the teeth. It includes food items such as raisins, candy, milk, soda, fruit juices, cereals, and bread. Bacteria in your mouth convert leftover food residues inside your mouth into acid. The combination of food, bacteria, saliva, and acid forms a substance known as plague. Plaque sticks to the teeth, and with time acids forming inside your mouth will eat away the tooth enamel, resulting in cavities in your child's tooth.  

To get out of this problem and save the tooth from damage, you must consult pediatric dentistry McKinney. Find a reputable dentist and let him/her see the tooth to find your child's decaying tooth's exact situation.

What Are The Conditions That May Put Your Child At Risk Of Tooth Decay?

Though bacteria are present in every child’s mouth, it would not be wrong to say that every child is at risk for tooth decay. But the below conditions may put your child at high risk for it:

• High levels of the bacteria that result in cavities

• High sugar and starch diet

• Limited or no fluoride water supply

• Poor oral hygiene

• Less saliva flow than normal

 What Are The Symptoms of Cavities in Children?

When a tooth develops decay and cavities, symptoms may vary from one child to the other. Here are some common ways:

• You may witness white spots on the affected areas. These spots mean that the enamel of your child's tooth has started to break down. This may cause sensitivity in the teeth.

• An early cavity may seem to be on the tooth. It will appear light brown in color.

• With time, the cavity becomes deeper and turns a darker shade of brown or even black.

As already mentioned, the symptoms of tooth decay may vary from one child to another. Generally, cavities don't always cause symptoms. When you take your child to the dentist, he/she finds it. But if in case you child feels:

• Pain in the area around the tooth

• Experience sensitivity to certain food items such as hot or cold drinks, sweets, and others

Both situations confirm that your child has a cavity that needs proper treatment.

How To Diagnose Tooth Decay In A Child?

A specialist of pediatric dentistry McKinney can diagnose your child's tooth decay based on:

• Understanding the complete history of your child

• Proper examination of your child's mouth

• Dental X-rays

How To Treat Tooth Decay In A Child?

Tooth decay treatment in children entirely depends on your child's age, symptoms, and general health. It also depends on the severity of the child's dental conditions.

In most cases, treatment necessitates removing the decayed part of the tooth, which is later replaced with a filling. Fillings are materials placed in the tooth to repair damage caused by tooth decay. These fillings are known as restorations. There are different types of fillings:

Direct restorations: In this type, the filling is directly placed into a prepared hole. The fillers used in this type of restoration are made out of silver, acrylic acids, fine glass powders, or resin. They are often tooth-colored. This type of restoration can be completed in a single visit

Indirect restorations: In this type of restoration, you need to visit your dentist more than once for treatment. This restoration includes veneers, crowns, inlays, onlays, and bridges. These are constructed with ceramics, composites, gold, or base metal alloys. All these materials look like natural tooth enamel.

Essential Points About Tooth Decay In Children

Tooth decay, as already mentioned, is the breakdown of tooth enamel. It could lead to holes in the teeth termed cavities.

• Bacteria in the mouth cause tooth decay. These bacteria form a sticky substance known as plaque that can eat away your tooth's enamel.

• Poor oral hygiene can also result in tooth decay.

• A dentist can identify tooth decay through X-rays and an exam.

• Treatment involves the removal of the decayed part of the tooth and replacing it with a filling.

How To Prevent Tooth Decay In A Child?

Check out some simple steps below to prevent tooth decay in your child:

• Make sure you brush your child's teeth every day. Make it a routine to avoid cavities and the growth of bacteria in the mouth.

• Brush the teeth, tongue, and gums twice a day. If your child brushes his or her teeth, keep a watch on them.

• If your child is younger than 3 years old, use only a small amount of toothpaste.

• Make sure your child eats a well-balanced diet. Keep a check on their sugar intake or snacks that are sticky such as candy, cookies, and cake.

• For bedtime bottles using children, only put water in it. Formula or juice may lead to tooth decay.

Make sure you schedule routine dental cleanings and examinations for your child so that you will be aware of the status of your child's dental health.

How You Should Be Always Prepared For Dental Emergencies

Have you ever thought of how you would handle yourself when you accidentally meet a dental emergency? Maybe never, because dental emergencies are not very common. They normally occur due to a sudden fall, a sudden slip, and a complicated dental disease. They are different from normal dental problems. 

The normal dental problems include discolored & stained, misaligned, and crooked & crowded teeth. Normally, we can live comfortably and easily perform our daily activities if we have these dental problems. But it is not the same with dental emergencies.

Dental emergencies are those dental problems that need immediate attention and treatment in order to alleviate severe pain, stop continuous bleeding, and reduce inflammation. This includes broken teeth, knocked out teeth, gum bleeding, tooth pain, swollen gums, etc. 

Practically, it is not possible to always be prepared for a dental emergency because we don’t know when and how it will occur or if it will occur or not. But yes, if we focus on the basics and some precautionary and preventive tips, we can always be a little prepared to handle dental emergencies. 

Here in this piece of writing, we have compiled a few precautionary and preventive tips that can help you be prepared to handle your dental emergencies. Let’s have a look at those precautionary and preventive tips. 

Try Not To Put Yourself in a Dental Emergency 

Avoiding dental emergencies is the best way to handle dental emergencies. However, it is hardly possible. Yes, you can avoid a few dental emergencies which are in your hands such as severe pain and gum bleeding that occur due to poor dental hygiene. But you can’t avoid those dental emergencies that occur due to a sudden fall, slip, and accident. The only thing you can do to avoid this type of dental emergency is to be careful and try not to put yourself in such situations that have higher possibilities of fall, slip, and accident. 

On the other hand, by maintaining good oral hygiene you can avoid those dental emergencies which are in your hands.  

Keep a Dental First Aid Kit At Your Home 

Keeping a dental first aid kit always with you is not practical, but yes you can always keep it at your home. It normally carries adhesive bandages, elastic bandages, lubricants, thermometers, antibiotics, gauze, absorbent compress, medical tape, tweezers, scissors, cold packs, safety pins, antiseptic applicators, latex gloves, tongue blades, pain killers, anesthesia, and a splint. These all tools and medicines are very effective to handle dental emergencies as they provide instant relief to dental patients. 

So, keep a dental first aid kit always with you at your home. By doing so, you will always be prepared to handle any type of dental emergency anytime. 

Make Use of Home Remedies 

During dental emergencies, if you contact emergency dentists in McKinney, they will take at least 10 to 15 minutes (depending on the distance) to reach your location. On the other hand, if you travel to visit your nearest emergency dental clinic, it will also take at least 15-30 minutes (depending on the distance). During this period of time, it is very important to control the situation so that it cannot get worse with every passing minute. And to control the emergency dental situation, you must have enough knowledge and understanding of correctly using different home remedies such as ice packs, cornstarch, and baking soda. This will surely help you a lot.  

Keep in Touch With Your Family Dentist

This is the most important thing. You should always be in touch with your family dentist because you never know when you have to call him/her for handling a dental emergency. You must have every important contact details of him/her on your mobile phone or your notebook. 

If you don’t have a family dentist, then you must have the major contact details of your nearby emergency dental clinic or an emergency dentist. It will be convenient for you during dental emergencies. 

On the other hand, if you don’t have even important contact details of your nearby emergency dental clinic, then the internet is there for you. By using the internet, you can search for the contact details of emergency dentists that are nearby your location. Once you will find their contact details, save them on your mobile phone. 

So, that’s how you can keep yourself prepared for handling different types of dental emergencies. 

Stay Calm and Act Wisely 

Generally, people get panicked when they find themselves in an emergency dental situation, and due to that, they make silly mistakes which further result in worsening their dental condition. You should not do these things. Just stay calm and act wisely. 

Firstly, you should try to stop bleeding. Then you need to focus on alleviating the severe pain and inflammation. Alongside, you need to contact your family emergency dentist or nearest emergency dentist for a quick dental check-up and immediate treatment. 

So, these are a few important things you must learn and follow. By doing so, you will always keep yourself prepared to handle any type of dental emergencies.