The Advantages of Professional Teeth Whitening

Improving the look of your smile should not require extensive cosmetic treatments. For patients seeking an alternative to traditional cosmetic dentistry, professional teeth whitening systems present the ideal way for transforming dulled or yellowing teeth into beautiful, white smiles. If you are weighing your options for improving the look of your dentition, consider the following advantages of professional teeth whitening.

Consistent Results
While convenient and inexpensive, over-the-counter teeth whitening systems are designed to fit the general whitening needs of diverse patients. As a result, this treatment lacks the personalization required to provide patients with a customized whitening treatment plan tailored to the shape of their smile and ideal shade goals. Professional whitening, on the other hand, can be customized to best suit your needs.

Minimally Invasive
While effective, traditional cosmetic treatments such as crowns and veneers can be invasive, requiring that part of the tooth be removed in order to successfully place the treatments. For patients with healthy teeth who are simply looking to improve the shade of their smile, these conventional options can do more harm than good, compromising the overall health of their smile. As teeth bleaching gel is topically applied to the teeth, patients do not need to worry about any changes being made the physical structure of their dentition.

Natural Looking Teeth
Over-the-counter teeth whitening systems often come with a standard amount of bleach already preloaded onto generic trays. If worn too long or improperly, patients run the risk of over bleaching their smile. With professional teeth whitening, the bleaching gel is precisely applied to the teeth, ensuring the results natural looking results.

Less Sensitivity 
When using over-the-counter whitening systems, many patients often experience tooth sensitivity, making the experience of bleaching the smile uncomfortable. As there are no custom trays used to bleach the smile, some gel may get on the gums, increasing sensitivity. With professional teeth bleaching, custom trays are made to ensure the bleach only makes contact with the teeth. Additionally, some professional bleaching systems, such as Opalescence, are designed to include potassium fluoride. This compound helps strengthen tooth enamel while limiting dental sensitivity, leading to an overall more pleasant experience.

Flexible Treatment Options 
Traditional cosmetic treatments often require multiple visits to the dentist in order to completely transform the dentition. Professional teeth whitening systems are available as both in-office and take-home treatments, making it just as convenient as over-the-counter whitening systems.

In Omaha, Drs. Brett Thomsen and Allen Thomsen use Opalescence and Kör professional whitening systems to help patients achieve a beautiful, healthy looking smile. For more information about teeth whitening, contact Thomsen Dental Group today.

The Value of Flossing

At-home oral hygiene makes up a critical part of preventivedentistry. Without a consistent and comprehensive hygiene routine, patients put themselves at risk of developing extensive dental issues which can compromise the overall function, aesthetics, and health of their smile. In particular, failure to floss correctly and consistently can leave smiles vulnerable to periodontal disease as well as cavities and more severe tooth decay.

If you are unsure of how to floss correctly, check out the following techniques for a fail-safe flossing routine:

Choose the Right Floss

With so many types of floss available, selecting the right kind can be a challenge. For patients with tight spaces between their teeth, a waxed floss ensure proper plaque removal without shedding between teeth. For individuals or children that have a hard time reaching maneuvering within their mouths, floss picks or themed flossers can ensure that your smile is properly cleaned without having to struggle to get between all the teeth.

Use Enough Floss

Ideally, you should be using about 18 inches of floss in order to properly clean every space. With too much, you may find yourself wasting floss. With too short of a string, you may find it difficult to hold the floss and get between every space, or you might reusing floss on teeth and therefore reintroducing plaque and debris back into your smile.

Wrap it Right

To hold the floss correctly, wind most of the string around one middle finger. The remaining floss should be wrapped around the corresponding finger on the other hand. To maneuver the floss, hold it tightly between your thumbs and forefingers. As the string gets dirty, gradually wrap it around the secondary middle finger, moving used floss out of the mouth.

Guide the Floss

Forcing the string between teeth is not only ineffective for removing plaque, but it can also damage the gums. Rather, guide the floss between your teeth using a gentle rubbing motion. Once you reach the gum line, curve the string into a C shape against the tooth, maneuvering the floss between the gum and tooth. Avoid yanking out the floss once you’re done with a tooth as well, as this can also damage the soft tissue.

Repeat

Flossing is only effective if you floss every tooth every day. That includes not only the teeth at the front of the smile but also the molars at the back and the space behind the final molar. As plaque can harden into tartar in a matter of days, daily flossing is critical to preventing gingivitis and cavities from progressing into more serious conditions.

At Thomsen Dental Group, Dr. Brett Thomsen and Dr. Allen Thomsen are dedicated to helping patients of all ages achieve a healthy, beautiful smile. Through our dedication to improving patient knowledge, we work closely with all new patients to ensure that they understand the importance of effective daily hygiene, including flossing, as well as the techniques needed to keep their smile healthy. For more information about effective preventive care in Omaha, contact our dentists today.  

The Impact of Gum Disease

While easily prevented, gum disease affects countless adults throughout the country every year. In addition to damaging the health of the smile, this condition can also yield long-term consequences beyond the dentition.

What is Gum Disease?

Also known as periodontal disease, this condition progresses over the course of three distinct phases. During the first stage, hardened plaque known as tartar begins to accumulate along the gum line, causing tissue irritation and bleeding. As the condition progresses, more bacteria and tartar begin to build up, causing the gums to pull away and form pockets in the spaces between the teeth and tissue.

During this second stage, these periodontal pockets begin to trap oral debris, bacteria, and additional tartar. The pockets also provide the disease-causing bacteria with an opportunity to spread below the gum line. Once below the gums, the bacteria begins to eat away at the tissue and bone which support the rest of the smile. In this final phase of gum disease, patients may experience loose teeth, complete tooth loss, and gum recession as well as bone deterioration.

Gum Disease and the Body

While at first glance gum disease seems like an isolated dental problem, the condition can have long-term consequences for the health of the rest of the body. In recent years, studies have suggested that the presence of gum disease bacteria may increase an individual’s likelihood of heart attack, stroke, or cardiovascular disease. Many scientists believe that this link is a result of the bacteria entering into the blood stream once below the gum line or as a result of the inflammation caused by the bacteria throughout the various stages.

In addition to increasing the likelihood of cardiovascular disease and stroke, gum disease can also have serious consequences for individuals with existing conditions. For patients with diabetes, periodontal disease can make it more difficult to control blood sugar as the condition actually increases blood sugar, increasing the risk for further diabetic complications. Similarly, pregnant women with gum disease are at a higher risk of experiencing complicated pregnancies and high-risk terms. Like any other infection, gum disease also poses a risk to the unborn baby, potentially leading to premature birth or low-birth weight.

Protect Your Smile Today

While the consequences of gum disease are serious, the condition is easily prevented through the adoption of effective oral hygiene regimens as well as regular professional cleanings. In Omaha, Drs. Brett and Allen Thomsen are committed to providing patients with comprehensive dental solutions to help them achieve and maintain their smiles and prevent the onset of gum disease. To learn more about proactive gum disease prevention and treatment, contact our Omaha dental practice today.

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