Teeth Whitening

Teeth Whitening San Francisco

For thousands of years, humans have been whitening teeth. The first recorded instance of tooth whitening occurred over 4,000 years ago in Egypt, where a mixture of ground pumice and water was used to scrub teeth clean. Today, there are many different methods for brightening your pearly whites, and amazing results are seen after just a single visit.

At Post Street Dental, we want you to love your smile. That’s why we offer the best teeth whitening in San Francisco. We offer in-office and at-home teeth whitening treatments tailored to your needs. Our team uses only the latest, most effective technologies and products available to get you beautiful white teeth and a brighter smile. Call us at (415) 986-4534 to schedule an appointment or complete the online booking form. 

Understanding Tooth Enamel

Tooth enamel is the hard outer layer of your teeth that protects them from everyday wear and tear. Enamel is made up of minerals, including calcium, phosphate, and fluoride. Over time, tiny cracks in tooth enamel can be stained or discolored from food, drinks, tobacco use, and aging. As enamel is worn away, the tooth becomes more yellow in color. 

What Is Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening is a process of lightening the color of your teeth. The most common method is bleaching, which uses hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide solution to remove stains and discoloration from teeth. There are also many non-bleaching whitening treatments that use physical or chemical agents to remove stains from teeth. Depending on your needs, we will recommend the best treatment for you.

It is important to note that teeth whitening treatments do not whiten dental restorations like crowns, bonding, or bridges. 

Opalescence for a Whiter Smile

At Post Street Dental, we offer Opalescence teeth whitening. Opalescence is a professional-grade in-office whitening gel available in several different formulas. Opalescence is more effective at removing tough stains and discoloration in a short period of time because it contains a higher concentration of bleaching agents than over-the-counter products, like whitening strips.

We also offer an at-home teeth whitening kit called Opalescence Go. This treatment allows you to get professional results without coming to the office for an appointment.

The Opalescence Whitening Procedure

The treatment is easy, and the results are dramatic. You will need to schedule 2 appointments with us. During the first appointment, we will take impressions of your teeth to make custom trays fitted to your smile.

At the second appointment, the dentist will apply the whitening gel to the trays, place them over your teeth and activate them with a special blue light. The light helps to accelerate the whitening process so that you see results faster. The gel penetrates deep into the tooth enamel to remove even the most stubborn stains and discoloration.

Causes of Teeth Staining

Some of the most common culprits include:

Food and Drinks. Coffee, tea, and red wine are some of the most common offenders. Acidic foods and drinks can also cause tooth enamel to become stained.

Tobacco Use. The nicotine and tar in tobacco products can deeply stain teeth, and the habit can also cause bad breath.

Aging. Our tooth enamel becomes stained due to wear and damage as we age, making it more susceptible to staining.

Genetics. You may be predisposed to having more yellow or discolored teeth due to the thinness and transparency of your teeth.

Extrinsic and Intrinsic Stains

There are two different types of tooth discoloration: extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic stains are surface tooth stains that can be removed with teeth whitening. Intrinsic stains are deep within the tooth and may require more aggressive treatment.

How to Prevent Teeth Staining

There are many things you can do to prevent teeth staining. 

• Avoid deeply colored foods and drinks like cola, coffee, and red wine can help keep your teeth looking their best. Foods high in acidity, like citrus fruits and tomatoes, can cause tooth enamel to become stained. 
• Your oral hygiene is very important. Brush and floss your teeth twice a day to help remove plaque buildup and other debris that can lead to staining and tooth decay. Use a toothpaste with added fluoride to help protect your teeth from decay.
• If you smoke cigarettes or use other tobacco products, quitting can help prevent teeth staining. Tobacco use is also a leading cause of bad breath.
• When drinking stain-causing beverages, like coffee or tea, use a straw to help prevent the liquid from coming into contact with your teeth.
• Get a professional teeth cleaning at least twice a year. This will help remove surface stains and prevent new ones from forming.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most teeth whitening appointments take about an hour in our dental office.