Teeth Whitening Specialist

What is the purpose of teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening is meant to improve the aesthetics of your smile. Coffee, wine, and other colored food and drink can stain your teeth. Teeth whitening removes residual discoloration, so your smile glistens again. Dr. Kim recommends teeth whitening for people who have healthy teeth and gums but don’t have fillings or veneers.

How does teeth whitening work?

There are three main teeth whitening procedures:

Tray whitening
Your dentist creates a custom-made whitening tray for an exact fit on your teeth. The tray comes with a mouthguard and a peroxide-based whitening solution. You will wear the tray for several hours a day until you’ve reached the desired level of whitening.

In-office whitening
This is the quickest way to whiten your teeth. Your dentist applies a bleaching product directly to the teeth. Then, he uses a special laser or light to speed the whitening process. The process is done in under an hour and provides dramatic results.

Boost to-go whitening
After your teeth have been whitened, Downey Smile Center offers a quick touch-up procedure if your teeth have become re-stained from food or drink.

How does professional teeth whitening compare to over-the-counter methods?

Over-the-counter teeth whitening kits and pastes carry a less potent concentration of active ingredients, so treatment takes longer and doesn’t always provide the desired results. Over-the-counter products also provide more surface-based improvements. Professional treatments, on the other hand, use carbamide or hydrogen peroxide to get deep into the layers of the teeth.

Store-bought products will only whiten teeth about one shade, while professional treatments provide much more dramatic effects. Professional teeth whitening also minimizes gum irritation by customizing the treatment for your specific teeth instead of the one-size-fits-all approach of over-the-counter treatments.

How do I take care of my newly whitened teeth?

To keep your teeth white, avoid any food and drink — like wine, coffee, spicy food, and soda — that can cause stains, and avoid smoking. You should brush and floss your teeth like normal after the procedure, but you may want to use toothpaste for sensitive teeth if you experience temperature sensitivity.

Call our office or book an appointment online to discuss your options for a whiter smile, and be sure to ask about our referral program for complimentary teeth whitening.