Knowing you have white sparkling teeth beneath your lips is a sure-fire way to make you smile with confidence. If you’ve noticed your teeth looking more yellow than “hello” lately, you’ve probably already tried a home teeth whitening kit! Perhaps it’s time for a visit to a dental clinic for a teeth whitening treatment session.
Why teeth go yellow over time
If you diligently brush and floss your teeth twice a day, but still can’t budge them from dull yellow to dazzling white, you’re not alone! In fact, yellow teeth are a natural result of staining due to consumption of certain foods with artificial flavourings and drinks such as coffee, tea and red wine. (Guilty!)
However, it’s good to know that you don’t have to live with it – you can restore your teeth to their original sparkly selves. If, like me, you’ve tried the over-the-counter teeth whitening kit treatments like the often-advertised purple teeth gel, you’ll have learnt the hard way that they simply don’t work. Worse yet, some whitening toothpastes, strips and homemade bleaching agents can be unsafe and damage the enamel on your teeth.
Thankfully, a teeth whitening treatment performed by a professional dentist is completely safe. It’s the best way to get results quickly and affordably that can last for up to three years. A good tip is to have your teeth professionally cleaned of plaque and tartar first, as clean teeth whiten better!
How teeth whitening can restore your smile
Aesthete Smilestudio is a Raffles Place-based dental clinic that offers both in-office teeth whitening and an at-home teeth whitening kit for patients looking to lighten their natural teeth by a few shades. While the clinic’s in-office Aesthete Spa Whitening System treatment can deliver highly effective results within just one visit, the at-home treatment can give you the same results, only over a longer period of time. The at-home method involves wearing customised whitening trays, and a lower concentration of whitening gel that makes it safe for self-administration.
According to DR ARIEL GUO, both whitening solutions are safe and non-invasive, and effective when administered correctly by a trained dental professional. While she says it’s common for some patients to experience slight sensitivity during or after the whitening treatment, it’s usually temporary and can be reduced with the use of desensitisers.
While teeth-whitening treatments are very effective, especially for yellow surface stains, she says it’s important to keep in mind that treatment is not a permanent fix. Teeth are still susceptible to discolouration over time. To maintain long-lasting results, she suggests identifying, then avoiding, what caused the discolouration in the first place.
“The longevity of the whitening effect depends largely on how well the patient takes care of their teeth and any lifestyle habits that may be attributed to the staining of teeth. Making small changes such as avoiding dark coloured foods and drinks, using a straw when drinking coffee or tea, and quitting smoking can help prevent the discolouration of teeth,” says Dr Guo. “More importantly, practice good oral hygiene habits and maintain a healthy oral environment!”
Aesthete Smilestudio is at #03-01A Singapore Land Tower, 50 Raffles Place. You can get in touch about a teeth-whitening consultation at 6438 3811 or dental@aesthetesmilestudio.com, or visit aesthetesmilestudio.com for more info.
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