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Be honest — have you ever been horrified at the shade of your natural teeth when scrolling through potential profile pics? Thanks to the prevalence of social media and all that it entails, including likes, shares, and selfies, people are more aware of how they look and what they could improve than ever before. At the end of the day, everyone wants a brighter smile, but a lot of people don’t know how to go about getting one. Below, the friendly team at Main Street Dental in La Crosse, WI, shares a few common teeth whitening mistakes to avoid:

Avoid These 3 Teeth Whitening Mistakes

1. Failing to Seek a Professional Opinion

When it comes to achieving a whiter smile, there are some home remedies that may remove minor surface stains; however, for truly dramatic results, professional teeth whitening is the most effective approach. The dentist will check your teeth for signs of cavities or decay, which must be addressed before applying any bleaching agents. Otherwise, the whitening products can seep into the cavities and cause painful complications when they hit the tooth’s nerve.

The dentist will also warn you if minor surface stains are not the cause of the teeth’s discoloration. For example, it is natural for teeth to darken with age because enamel wears down over time, exposing the yellow or grayish dentin below. If this is the cause for your discolored smile, home remedies are not going to produce dramatic results.  

2. Leaving Whitening Strips on for Too Long

teeth whiteningUsing whitening strips for too long or too often can result in splotching, or patches in varying shades of white all over your teeth. It can also increase tooth sensitivity and discomfort. Although some sensitivity is normal following a whitening procedure, the discomfort should subside in a matter of days; however, it is likely to persist if you take an aggressive approach to whitening by ignoring specific instructions regarding the duration or frequency of use.

3. Using a One-Size-Fits-All Product

Whitening trays that are one-size-fits-all do not actually fit all smiles. By using a generic product instead of one that has been customized for your particular bite, you could end up with chemical burns in other parts of the mouth, like the gums, cheeks, or tongue. Custom trays may cost a little more than the one-size-fits-all kind, but they will provide much better results and can actually save money in the long run because they are reusable.  

You can avoid all of the above mistakes by turning to a dentist for professional teeth whitening. If you want to ring in the New Year with a brighter smile, turn to Main Street Dental in La Crosse, WI. Dr. Dan Kujak and his friendly staff are proud to provide quality care for patients of all ages. You can learn more about the preventative and restorative dentistry services they provide by visiting the practice online. To schedule a teeth whitening appointment today, call (608) 784-4063.

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