Whiten Your Smile for the Holidays

With the upcoming holiday season upon us, thoughts turn to frenzied gift-giving plans, preparing the house for guests, and, of course, enjoying awesome holiday meals. Capturing all these treasured moments with pictures is a must.

But what can you do if your fine china and your grandmother’s silver flatware are a lot brighter than your teeth? Spoiler alert! Hiding from the camera is not an option. If it’s been a minute since you’ve brightened your smile, there’s still time, says Jose Marcano, DMD, at the Orlando Center for Cosmetic Dentistry.

How your teeth can show signs of a life well-lived

There’s an adage about your eyes being the mirror of your soul. While your eyes may reveal your thoughts and emotions, your teeth have a way of showing the signs of a life well-lived. Beverages like coffee, tea, and wine, as well as starchy foods and tomato-containing foods, can wreak havoc on your teeth. But staining isn’t the only reason teeth become dull and discolored. 

Natural aging impacts the appearance of your teeth. The way it works is that the hard outer layer of your teeth, called dental enamel, thins out over time. Since enamel performs two major functions – protecting the inner layers of your teeth and creating that pearly white look, less enamel may translate into less-luminous, yellowish teeth.  

Many teeth whitening options

The good news is that there are many diverse options available to whiten your teeth. So many, in fact, that it can be overwhelming if this is your first time. The possibilities typically come down to whether you want to purchase a whitening product and do it at home, or prefer to turn the reins over to your dental provider for a chair-side in-office treatment.

Depending on the amount of staining you have or your individual whitening goals, some over-the-counter (OTC) whitening products, like whitening trays and gels, may do the trick. Keep in mind that OTC whitening agents are not as strong as those your dentist uses in chair-side treatment and may require a longer treatment time.

One appointment away from a bright, picture-perfect smile

If your teeth are heavily stained, discolored, or dull, then professional in-office whitening may be your best bet. Dr. Marcano and the professional team help patients brighten their teeth using one of the industry’s most recognized teeth whitening systems –Philips ZOOM!

One of the benefits of Zoom! is its bleaching agent, which contains ACP (amorphous calcium phosphate), protecting your enamel, improving luster and luminosity, and reducing tooth sensitivity. Talk about the ultimate holiday bonus!

With ZOOM! in a single appointment, we can turn up the volume of your smile by about eight shades. In a fraction of the time it takes to defrost your Thanksgiving turkey, you can capture the ultimate picture-perfect smile that will make you want to slide into every photo taken during the holidays.

A Zoom! whitening session takes about an hour. The way it plays out is that Dr. Marcano does some prep work by covering your gums and tongue with a rubber sheet. He then applies a whitening agent to your teeth. After allowing the solution to sit for about 20 minutes, Dr. Marcano activates the agent using a special ultraviolet light, which breaks down the stains. He repeats these steps several times until he achieves the desired level of whitening.

Long-lasting results minus the guesswork

If you’ve ever gone the DIY whitening route, you know the whole process can be hit-or-miss and quite frustrating. For some patients, ditching the guesswork in favor of in-office chair-side whitening services like ZOOM! is like getting an extra holiday gift you actually like.

The best part is that with Zoom! the gift keeps on giving. Although it varies from patient to patient, ZOOM! whitening lasts at least four to six months. By practicing vigilant at-home hygiene—brushing twice a day, flossing, and going to the dentist every six months for a check-up and professional cleaning —you can maintain and extend your whitening results.

If you want to celebrate the holidays with a bright, photo-worthy smile, schedule a teeth whitening consultation at Orlando Center for Cosmetic Dentistry. To make treatment as affordable as possible, ask about our Groupon® discounts. Contact the office today at 407-855-1471.