Teeth Whitening

A mouth full of shining pearly whites can make you look better and smile with more confidence. The team of dental experts at Driggers & Baker Family Dentistry in West Columbia, Texas, offer professional-grade, in-office teeth whitening for their patients whose dull or discolored teeth are holding them back from a more beautiful smile. To add some luster to your life with a brighter, whiter smile, make an appointment today by calling the office or using the convenient online booking tool.

Teeth Whitening Q & A

How do my teeth get stained or discolored?

Staining happens for a number of reasons and can be broken down into two broad categories: extrinsic and intrinsic stains.

Extrinsic stains

Extrinsic stains are stains on your enamel, which is the thin, protective outer layer of your tooth. These type of surface stains can be caused by:

Tobacco products, such as cigarettes or chewing tobacco

Darkly pigmented food or beverages like coffee, red wine, or cola

Poor oral hygiene

Even if you keep your enamel healthy, it will still eventually darken or fade as you age. Extrinsic stains are easily removed with teeth whitening that can be done in the Driggers & Baker Family Dentistry office or at your home.

Intrinsic stains

Intrinsic stains are staining in the inner layer of your teeth, called the dentin. These stains can be caused by:

Exposure to too much fluoride in early childhood

Exposure to tetracycline antibiotics before the age of 8

Physical trauma to one or more of your teeth

Intrinsic stains also happen naturally as you age, since your dentin yellows over time, and the enamel on your teeth gets thinner and more translucent, allowing the dentin to be more perceptible. Intrinsic stains are more difficult to remove, and your dentist will first need to determine if the tooth is worth saving, but they will ultimately be able to simply put whitening inside of your tooth.

How do I whiten my teeth?

The team of friendly dentists at Driggers & Baker Family Dentistry offer a couple of different state-of-the-art, noninvasive, and painless methods to make your smile more radiant:

Custom-designed, at-home bleaching trays

These trays are made from a mold of your teeth, so they fit perfectly around every nook and cranny in your smile. Your dentist gives you a professional-grade whitening solution to put in the trays, which you’ll wear for up to an hour a day at home. Your teeth will reach their optimal level of whiteness within just a few weeks!

In-office whitening

Your dentist can also whiten your teeth during an office visit using the Philips Zoom!® whitening system. After a thorough cleaning, your dentist applies a protective product to your gums and fits your mouth with a whitening tray. A special light is then shone on your teeth to speed up the process and make the whitening more effective. Your dentist is able to observe your teeth as they whiten, ensuring that they get your optimal shade just right.

Can I just whiten my teeth with store-bought products?

There are many popular over-the-counter teeth whitening solutions that you can buy at your local pharmacy, such as generic trays and strips, but these are nowhere near as effective as the solutions offered by the professionals at Driggers & Baker Family Dentistry.

These products take months to make a difference, and ultimately can’t reach the same level of results of a professional-grade teeth whitening. They can even irritate your gums, since the generic trays and strips aren’t designed for your particular bite and smile, and the whitening solutions frequently leak out and get in your mouth.

To whiten your teeth safely and effectively, schedule an appointment today with the dental professionals at Driggers & Baker Family Dentistry by calling the office or using the convenient online booking tool.