Teeth Whitening

Few cosmetic treatments can transform your smile and self-confidence as quickly as teeth whitening. Laura Llanos, DMD, at Llanos Dental Group in Miami Lakes, Florida, specializes in teeth whitening, eliminating embarrassing stains, and making your smile as vibrant as your personality. If you’re ready to improve your appearance, call the office or use online booking to schedule a teeth whitening appointment today.

Why do my teeth need whitening?

Tooth enamel gradually absorbs colored pigments in foods, beverages, and other products. Over time, you end up with yellow, dingy teeth.

Teeth stains most often come from:

Foods and beverages with dark pigments

Any product with dark pigments will stain your teeth, but some of the worst offenders are tea, coffee, cranberry juice, berries, and red wine.

Acidic products

Foods like citrus fruits, tomatoes, coffee, red wine, and vinegar are naturally acidic. Other foods like sodas and sour candies have acids added to them to boost their flavor.

Frequent exposure to acids erodes tooth enamel, making it more susceptible to staining. Products containing dark pigments and acids are the worst for staining. A few examples include cola, coffee, and red wine.

Tobacco products

Nicotine and tar from cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products cause yellow and brown staining.

What are the advantages of professional teeth whitening?

In-office procedures only take an hour to dramatically whiten your teeth. By comparison, over-the-counter products take weeks or longer and don’t come close to producing the same results.

You can only get professional strength bleaching products in the office because Dr. Llanos takes special care to protect your gums, cheeks, tongue, and lips, ensuring the delicate tissues don’t come into contact with the strong product.

During a professional teeth whitening, she also ensures every tooth is evenly covered with the bleaching agent. Uneven application (which can easily happen at home) produces uneven results.

Who is a good candidate for teeth whitening?

Everyone can have their teeth whitened at Llanos Dental Group, but Dr. Llanos does a dental exam first to be sure you don’t need restorative work. For example, if you have a cavity or crack, the bleach can seep through and damage the nerves in the pulp.

You should also know that dental crowns don’t respond to bleaching. However, porcelain crowns resist staining, so you only need to whiten the surrounding teeth to match the crown. 

Can I get better at-home teeth whitening products?

Yes, Dr. Llanos offers at-home teeth whitening kits that produce better results than over-the-counter products. She can also create customized trays that fit your teeth. You can use them at home with your whitener to hold the product against your teeth.

Ready to dramatically whiten your smile? Book a teeth whitening appointment online or call Llanos Dental Group today.