What Is the Difference between Cleaning and Whitening Your Teeth?

Cleaning your teeth and whitening or bleaching your teeth may sound like similar endeavours, but in fact they are very different procedures with vastly different outcomes. Regular dental cleaning and whitening of your teeth in Fairview, Halifax, should be scheduled as part of everyone’s ongoing oral health care, while whitening is for the most part a purely elective procedure that is used to improve the appearance of your smile. 

The Importance of Regular Dental Cleanings

We all know how important it is to brush our teeth at least twice a day and to floss daily. This helps to combat the growth of bacteria in our mouths that can lead to the development of dental plaque, and eventually tartar buildup. While brushing and flossing is an effective method of reducing the bacteria, it is important to have regular professional deep cleaning of our teeth (both above and below the gum line). These cleanings remove residual plaque and tartarbuildup to maintain good oral health. Regular cleanings (at least twice a year) help to prevent gum disease and tooth loss. If you have gum disease, you may need to have cleanings more often than twice a year to keep it under control. Regular dental cleanings are also important because they provide an opportunity to screen for oral cancer (early detection is vital to successful treatment).

Would You Benefit from a Whiter Smile?

Many people say that a smile is the first thing they notice when they meet someone. Having a nice white smile can be an incredible source of self-esteem and confidence. As a result, a whiter smile is often one of the things people list first when asked what they would like to change about themselves.

The things you eat and drink can have a major impact on the colour of your smile. Things such as wine, coffee, and smoking will slowly create surface stains on the teeth over time. Aging can also be a contributing factor to discolouration of the teeth. Luckily there are a number of safe and effective methods available to dentists and hygienists that can effectively remove these stains and revitalize the natural whiteness of your teeth. This includes office procedures as well as take-home whitening kits.

It is important to visit your dentist to determine whether you are a good candidate for teeth whitening. Existing conditions such as gum disease and cavities may cause enhanced sensitivity to whitening procedures. If you have existing dental work (including crowns and other restorations), a whitening procedure may also have limited success.

Cleaning and Whitening Your Teeth in Fairview, Halifax

The Clayton Park Plaza Dental Office is a full-service dental office serving clients in Clayton Park, Fairview, Halifax, and surrounding areas. They welcome new patients and are proud to offer high-quality professional dental services in a friendly and comfortable environment.  The Clayton Park Plaza Dental office provide clients with the following services:

• General and Family Dentistry
• Emergency Dental Services
• Cosmetic Dentistry
• Implants/Dentures and other major restorative services
• Whitening Services
• Mouth guards (for sports, TMJ, teeth grinding, etc.)

If you are interested in cleaning and teeth whitening in Fairview, Halifax, or surrounding area, contact the Clayton Park Plaza Dental Office for an appointment today.