Having your teeth professionally whitened is a great way to refresh your smile; it's affordable, long-lasting, and the results can be dramatic. Dr. Mildred Arucan-Masunaga, your dentist in Wahiawa, HI, is happy to offer whitening to her patients, but she understands that many people will have questions about the procedure. Read below to learn the answers to some of the most common questions on the topic!

How does teeth whitening work?

The surface of your teeth looks smooth, but it's actually covered in tiny crevices that trap particles from all of the different food and drink that you consume. When enough of these particles build up, the teeth often appear tan, yellow, or gray. Teeth whitening from your Wahiawa dentist oxygenates these tiny spaces in the enamel with a peroxide solution, creating bubbles that break up the stains and thoroughly cleanse those microscopic spaces out, revealing your natural tooth color once again.

Will whitening make my teeth sensitive?

As mentioned above, whitening is essentially a deep-cleaning process for your teeth. One of the possible side effects of the treatment can be that the whitening chemicals also remove the insulating minerals from the enamel on your teeth, leading to sensitivity. This is a temporary issue and should resolve in a few days after the minerals have had time to fill in the spaces again.

Can't I buy whitening products in a store?

Go to any pharmacy or grocery store, and you'll see a huge variety of teeth whitening merchandise available over-the-counter, for what seems like a great price. However, these products never really deliver adequate results. In contrast, our Wahiawa office uses professional-grade whitening products that brighten up your teeth much more effectively, and in a fraction of the time it takes for store-bought treatments to work.

If you'd like to schedule a whitening treatment with Dr. Mildred Arucan-Masunaga, contact our Wahiawa office by dialing (808) 622-0001 today!