Facial Esthetics and the Golden Proportion

Have you ever wondered why it is so easy to spot a perfect smile? It’s something almost all of us can do subconsciously. Beyond straight white teeth, there is something that just seems to stand out on someone with a “Hollywood smile.” Believe it or not, mathematics and proportions dictate the esthetics of our teeth and facial characteristics. By following a few basic ratios and the golden proportion, it is easy to see how a great smile comes together!

When we smile, our maxillary (upper jaw) anterior teeth will show the most. Our two central incisors are flanked by slightly smaller lateral incisors and then by the canines. The premolars and molars behind the canines will show as well, which contributes to the “width” of the smile. In an ideal situation, the line between the two front teeth should run perfectly parallel to a line drawn between the eyes or ears. This measurement is of particular concern in patients with head and neck injuries or asymmetrical faces. In addition, the two central incisors should be about 80% as wide as they are is tall. That is, if the tooth is 10mm tall it should be nearly 8mm wide to look the most natural.

The most important principle to follow in facial esthetics is something called the golden proportion. This principle dictates the relative widths of the anterior teeth.  Here, the lateral incisors are used as a reference factor of 1. The central incisors should be 1.618 times the size of the laterals, while the canines should only take up about .618 of the space. These very specific numbers can separate artificial “chicklet” looking teeth from a well rounded and robust natural smile. When performing cosmetic procedures such as crowns and bonding, we always work our hardest to preserve and develop these dimensions.

These ideas and principles dictate how our office works towards creating beautiful and esthetically pleasing smiles. Most people are not born with these ideal dimensions and still have beautiful faces. What these numbers do, however, is establish a guideline for how we approach crowns, dentures, implants and restorations to the anterior teeth. Don’t measure your own smile and become disappointed! These numbers do not take into account a number of other factors that can alter your facial appearance. Everyone has a unique smile and deserves a unique treatment!

At Thousand Oaks Family dentistry, we offer a wide range of services that can create mild to dramatic changes to your smile. As with any procedure, we can only decide what treatment is appropriate for you with a full consultation and exam. If you would like to learn more about facial esthetics and cosmetic dentistry, please contact our office!

X-Rays and Radiation Safety

Although our office is full of technologically advanced tools and space-age materials, the most common conversation starter is our trusted x-ray machine.  Between hygiene checkups and emergency appointments, we are often asked "Are dental X-rays safe? Do I REALLY need another set?" The answer to both these questions is a resounding yes. After our recent post on adding the Dexis Dexsheild to our radiation safety protocol, we wanted to take a moment to explain what x-rays are, how they work and why they are some of the safest diagnostic tools available to the medical world.

Since the end of the atomic age, the word "radiation" has gained an increasingly worsening reputation. It is a scary concept; invisible and potentially harmful energy that can travel through walls. However, it is important to remember that radiation has always been around us since the beginning of time. The sun, the atmosphere and even large rocks all give off measurable radiation. This environmental exposure jumped drastically with the rise of consumer electronics. From your television to your toaster, most common household items contribute to the yearly radiation we receive. 

X-Rays are a subtype of radiation that has ideal properties for medical imaging. They have no mass or charge and travel in straight lines with fixed wavelengths. When they reach a material, they are either transmitted through, reflected or absorbed. This allows x-ray films to image biological tissues. A developed x-ray film tells us about relative densities of an object; denser materials will appear white, while empty spaces look grey or black. This allows us to visualize tooth decay, as the developed picture will indicate where the tooth structure has demineralized and become more porous.

When you receive an x-ray at our office, you are receiving a dose of radiation that is less than half the background radiation from a typical day. This equivalency falls drastically if you sunbathe or spend a lot of time outdoors without sunscreen. Our machines are calibrated to give the absolute safest dose possible to obtain a diagnostic quality image. This is not easy to achieve; both too much AND too little power can make an x-ray more harmful to a patient. Overall, dental and medical imaging (x-rays, CT-scans, MRIs) account for about 1% of the average yearly radiation a patient receives. We feel that this is an excellent trade for the incredible diagnosing power we gain from their use.

Pictured: some of the digital x-ray equipment at our office

While some products claim to match the abilities of x-rays without the drawbacks, none are as reliable, predictable or useful. For this reason, radiography machines are the gold standard in dental imaging around the world. The job of individual offices is then to keep their patients as safe as possible, to maximize quality while minimizing side effects. At Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry, we have many protocols that are focused on this idea. Our radiography system is fully electronic, from the beam timers to the digital sensors. This means we can deliver the lowest and most predictable level of radiation for every patient. This is followed up with a number of protective factors, from using lead aprons with thyroid collars, to our Dexsheilds and collimated (protectively enclosed) beam head. In every aspect, we meet or exceed the standards set out by the local and federal government.

If you still have concerns about radiation and why it is used in a dental setting, please give us a call. We know that radiography can seem intimidating or dangerous, and want to do our best to ease your mind. Our office is extremely confident in the safety and quality of the images we produce and would love to show you how and why we use them!

What's in a Toothbrush?

“What type of toothbrush do you recommend?”

- A question heard daily at dental offices around the world. Between TV ads, flashy packaging and nearly miraculous promises, there seem to be an infinite number of variables on the simple brush. Fortunately, picking a great toothbrush is easy and straightforward. There is no need to go out and buy the priciest or latest model; as long as you keep some simple principles in mind, you are sure to make a great choice.

When picking out a manual toothbrush, the most important factors to consider are brush head size and bristle stiffness. In general, a smaller brush head will allow you to better access the more difficult-to-clean areas of your mouth. This is especially true for young children, who have much less room to accommodate a large head. Also, make sure you are using a toothbrush with soft or (at the most) medium stiffness bristles. Stiff and extra stiff options can actually cause damage to your enamel and gum tissue, particularly if you tend to brush with a lot of force. Beyond size and stiffness, the brush you use should be a matter of personal choice. Make sure to use a toothbrush that is comfortable to hold and easy to maneuver all over your mouth.

For those looking to “upgrade” their brushing experience, our office recommends switching to an electric toothbrush. For the average patient, electric toothbrushes offer a more complete cleaning experience by taking the guesswork out of duration, proper motion and amount of force necessary. While it may be possible to achieve the same level of clean with a manual brush, electric variants simplify the process while simultaneously making it harder to “cheat” on brushing time.

When shopping for an electric brush, we recommend looking for the best deals available on brushes with timers and force sensors. Big box stores tend to have the best prices, particularly on two packs (for you and a loved one!). Most brushes will fall into either the sonic (vibrating) or the spinning (mechanical) category. We recommend picking whichever motion you think you will like the best. As with manual brushes, the most important factors are brush head size and bristle stiffness. So long as the brush comes with a reasonably small and soft head, any mechanical motion will be beneficial to your teeth and gums.

If you have any further questions about toothbrush choices, do not hesitate to call our office. Any of our staff members can offer great perspective on what models have worked best for them personally. We are more than happy to make recommendations and suggestions with all your home dental hygiene choices!

Video Blog on Home Hygiene

Greetings, my name is Dr. Kari Ann Hong, and I have a family dentistry practice where I see patients from all age groups.  In my practice, I help educate my patients about what they can do at home to help care for their teeth.  

The first topic of discussion is what patients eat and drink and how frequently they do so.  Our mouths all naturally harbor a certain amount of bacteria.  A specific strain called streptococcous mutans is responsible for eating the foods and beverages we ingest and creating acid.  This acid causes a breakdown in the calcium phosphate structure of our teeth, leading to tooth decay.  Certain foods will stick to the teeth longer than others and make the teeth more susceptible to decay.  Examples of cavity provoking foods and beverages are pretzels, crackers, cereals, sodas, energy drinks, and juices.  Natural foods that come from a tree or are picked from the ground will naturally wash of the teeth much quicker after we eat it.

Every time we eat or drink something other than water, our mouth will become more acidic for at least fifteen minutes after we ingest it.  So the more frequently we eat, the more acid that accumulates in our mouths.

In order to counteract the bacteria in our mouths and the foods that stick to our teeth, it is important that we brush twice a day and floss once a day.  I generally recommend an electric rechargeable toothbrush like a Sonicare or an Oral B to all of my patients.  These electric toothbrushes are great because they help remove plaque build up better that we can with a manual toothbrush.  Also, they have timers on them to encourage us to brush for a full two minutes.  I recommend that my patient split their mouth up into four quadrants, and spend 30 seconds on each quadrant.  If you choose to use a manual toothbrush, then I recommend a soft tooth brush.  A harder tooth brush can adversely abrade the gum tissue or the tooth surface with extended use.  Place the tooth brush at a 45 degree angle to the tooth surface.  Make sure to gently massage the tooth and focus on where the teeth meet the gums, because this is where the plaque likes to collect.  

I recommend flossing or using a hygiene tool to clean below the contact of the teeth at least once a day. The idea behind flossing is that you want to get the floss between the gum and the tooth, by wrapping each tooth you have just flossed between in a C-motion.  For the butler soft pic, you just need to get it below the contact area.

In terms of what toothpastes or mouthwashes to use, I have a couple of suggestions.  Any fluoridated toothpaste will be sufficient to clean the teeth.  In patients that have a high risk of tooth decay, I will often recommend an additional  tooth paste to be brushed on with a dry toothbrush, after regular tooth brushing.  CariFree gel and MI paste are two of my favorite products for tooth remineralization.  Both products have calcium, phosphate, and fluoride that help to rebuild tooth structure.  

For mouth washes, I like over the counter ACT Fluoride rinse for those prone to tooth decay.  For those that are prone to gum disease, I recommend Listerine, which is anti-bacterial.  CariFree also makes a mouth wash that is pH neutral and has the same calcium and phosphate as the gel.

Finally, if you like to chew gum, then you can also fight your bacteria at the same time, by finiding a gum with xylitol. Xylitol is a plant derived sugar that prohibits the bacteria in our mouths from producing acid.  Studies have shown that 5-8mg of xylitol a day in a chewable form helps protect our teeth.  

If you would like more information about what you can do to prevent tooth decay and make your teeth healthier, contact us for a new patient exam, where we will go into your specific needs in detail!

Video Blog on Dental Emergencies

What constitutes a dental emergency?  If your face is swollen and you are in pain, that is the number one reason to call a dentist today.  Swelling of the face is the sign of a serious infection called an abscess.  It is necessary to seek treatment immediately to prevent the spread of the infection.  If it is after hours, then it is recommended you seek treatment at an urgent care or emergency room.  

The second biggest emergency is when an adult  tooth is knocked out of its socket.  This can happen from running and falling, falling off a bike, getting hit by a car, playing sports and getting hit in the face. It might be possible to replant the "avulsed" tooth, but it needs to be done in the first 30 minutes to one hour after it falls out, in order for the replantation to have a chance at being successful. To transport the lost tooth, it is best to either place it in a cup of milk or store it in your mouth until you are able to see a dentist.

The first two emergencies I mentioned are relatively rare occurrences.  The most common emergency I see is when a patient is having tooth pain.  And the second most common is when someone chips a front tooth or breaks a back molar.  

If you are having a dental emergency, please call my office and we will do our best to see you as soon as possible.

Eating Disorders and Oral Health

Anyone affected by an eating disorder can tell you about its tolls on whole body health. Whether overeating, binging eating or bulimia, these conditions have very tangible effects on the entire system. We would like to take a moment to highlight how some of these disorders affect oral health. Please understand that this information is not presented to to scare or shame anyone. Rather, we want our patients to understand what is happening to their mouths, and how to go forward and manage the diseases’ effects.

Eating disorders involving overeating can damage teeth by creating prolonged acidic events in the mouth. Every time we eat or drink, our mouth pH turns acidic for the duration of the meal and the following 30 minutes. If someone were to eat once every half hour, their mouth would spend the entire day in a state of acidity. As this acid sits on the teeth, it begins to break down the tooth enamel, causing decay. Thus, overeaters who graze throughout the day are particularly susceptible to poor oral health. In addition to problems with the amount of food, the type of food consumed presents problems as well. Binge eaters can gravitate towards sweet, sticky and carbohydrate heavy products (“comfort foods”). These foods are excellent at adhering to the teeth, causing a drop in mouth pH and fueling bacteria to colonize and produce further acid. This can lead to more decay, recession and gum disease. In total, overeating can take many of the problems associated with frequent snacking or poor diets, and amplify them.

No matter what your diet, sticky, sugary and carbohydrate heavy foods are excellent at causing tooth decay. Overeaters are particularly susceptible to these effects due to their high frequency of exposure. 

At the opposite end of the spectrum, bulimia can also be particularly damaging to the teeth. Purging can leave patterns of acid erosion across the entire mouth, causing extensive enamel degradation and gum inflammation. Stomach acid is much stronger than any pH drop induced by food consumption, and thus the effects of bulimia manifest themselves very rapidly. In comparison, each session of purging would be akin to rinsing your whole mouth with concentrated lemon juice. These effects can be further amplified if the acid isn’t rinsed off and allowed to sit on the teeth. Time is an important factor in tooth decay, and the longer the teeth are exposed to acid, the more extensive the decay will be.

A visualization of the affects of bulimia on teeth. From bulimiahelp.org

While this information may seem daunting, it is important to remember that there are ways to improve your oral health and stop the progression of decay. Fillings, crowns and root canals can halt existing cavities and pain while restoring the esthetics of your smile. For teeth in the early stages of decay, there are a number of products to help repair enamel. Rinses such as Carifree CTx3 offer remineralization through fluoride and xylitol exposure, while pastes like GC MI-Paste provide extra calcium phosphate for rebuilding enamel. Overall, the important thing to remember is there is always a solution to your current oral state.

Again, our office presents this information to help you better understand how a psychological disorder (eating) can affect your physical body (teeth). If you are affected by an eating disorder, we encourage you to seek professional help. We want all of our patients to lead healthy lives, and are happy to help you find inner wellness!

Dentistry Through The Ages- High School and College

Greetings and welcome to our on-going blog series, Dentistry Through the Ages. In these blog posts, we will cover age-group specific dental needs and concerns. Your life is constantly changing, and we want to equip you with the best information possible to keep your teeth healthy!

Today, we want to take a look at the special dental needs and concerns of high school and college students. Between classes, extracurriculars and socializing, this is no doubt a hectic time period. However, it is still important to remember the basics of dental care- brush twice a day, floss at night and schedule regular teeth cleanings. Bad habits and neglect developed during these times can last well into adulthood, causing irreversible damage to the teeth and gums.

For our patients in orthodontic treatment, please remember to work hard at keeping your brackets, wire and any appliances clean and debris free. Many young adults develop characteristic decay later in life as a result of poorly maintained teeth while in braces. Food stuck under brackets and wires can cause extensive erosion and demineralization that will eventually necessitate fillings. While the teeth may look and feel fine now, the weakened enamel will almost certainly become a problem. As always, take care to follow your orthodontist’s instructions. Some steps or recommendations may seem tedious, but they are all very important and can add months to treatment time if improperly followed.

During these more “studious” years, students often turn to brain food to keep themselves awake and alert during long hours at the library. Unfortunately, this type or prolonged snacking can create lengthy acidic environments in the mouth, leading to extensive tooth decay. For this reason, many patients return home from college and find themselves with their very first cavity. To counteract this, we recommend keeping snack sessions concise, ideally under 30 minutes. For those who need to “graze” to stay focused, we suggest avoiding sticky, processed foods and gravitating towards fresh vegetables, fruits or even cheeses. You can always follow up your snacks with xylitol mints or gum to assist in the remineralization process as well.

For better or worse, this time period is also hallmarked by many young adults experimenting with drugs and alcohol. We are here to remind you that almost every drug (prescription or illicit) will cause dry mouth to some degree. This is a surefire way to speed up the development of decay and cavities, above any other adverse interactions substance may cause. Alcohol is not exempt from this fact. Alcoholic beverages are carb-heavy and acidic, lending themselves to stimulating mouth bacteria and causing enamel erosion. Binge drinking can exacerbate this problem, through prolonged mouth acidity, vomiting, and “passing out” (going to sleep without brushing teeth/sleeping with a dry mouth). Overall, students who choose to party frequently may be faced with a host of oral problems later in life.

In total, many patients who developed good oral care as children will carry it through college and to adulthood. While there are some specific concerns to patients in this age group, most of their dental care extends from the basics of home maintenance. We wanted to highlight some special circumstances that could reverse years of great dental care- before it became a problem. As always, our office is here to guide you and your family towards optimum oral health!

Dentistry Through the Ages- Toddlers and Young Children

Greetings and welcome to our on-going blog series, Dentistry Through the Ages. In these blog posts, we will cover age-group specific dental needs and concerns. Your life is constantly changing, and we want to equip you with the best information possible to keep your teeth healthy!

Today, we want to take a look at the special dental needs and concerns of toddlers and young children. During this time period, your young one will undergo rapid growth and development, both physically and mentally. At Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry, we want to give you the best tools to keep up with their changing needs!

There are a number of milestones that can help you best gauge your child’s dental development. Typically, the first primary teeth to erupt will be the central lower incisors at around 8 months. These will be followed shortly after by opposing teeth, the upper central incisors at about 10 months. Likewise, the last primary teeth to be shed are the upper canines and second molars, which are lost as late as 12 years.

A chart showing the eruption and shedding ages for primary teeth. 

It becomes apparent that although the primary teeth will all be eventually be shed and replaced, they need to last a long time- from 5 to 10 years depending on the specific tooth. During this period, these teeth will serve as both mechanical tools for chewing and as placeholders for the adult teeth. It is important that primary teeth are lost naturally and not due to facial trauma or decay. If a tooth must be removed prematurely, we recommend placing a Space Maintainer retention device to hold spacing. Without this appliance, the adult teeth can come in crooked or unevenly, requiring extensive orthodontic intervention later in life.

A typical space maintainer on a model. The final appliance is gently cemented to the rearward tooth. 

Beyond the development of primary teeth and adult teeth, there are a number of ways you can give your young child the best start on their dental health. At 1 year of age, we recommend stopping the use of bottles and pacifiers. Studies show that the prolonged use of these products can cause improper oral development, including an open bite. You can limit pacifier use using the “snip” method, where a small amount of the pacifier base is cut off periodically, limiting your child’s ability to create satisfying suction with the device. Thumb sucking needs to be limited as well, although behavioral interventions required to stop this are usually unsuccessful until the age of 3.

We recommend brushing your child’s teeth as soon as the first teeth begin to erupt. You can brush with water, fluoride-free toothpaste or even xylitol wipes. However, avoid fluoridated toothpaste and supplements until age 2, as the fluoridated water in Southern California will provide enough remineralization power alone. Any extra dosage of the ion can cause a condition called fluorosis, where white spots of “over mineralization” arise on the still-developing adult teeth.

At about three years of age, adjacent teeth in your child’s mouth will begin to touch. At this time, it is crucial to start flossing once a day. Childhood diets are full of tooth decay causing foods and habits- constant snacking, sticky and carbohydrate heavy foods and milk instead of water for beverage. While brushing will manage the risk of decay on most tooth surfaces, only flossing can remove bacteria and food from in-between teeth, where 70% of childhood tooth decay occurs. Additionally, keep in mind that brushing and flossing can be difficult tasks for children. As a rule of thumb, children not possess the motor skills to brush their own teeth until they can tie their own shoes.

We typically recommend children come in for their first dental visit at 1 year of age or when their first tooth comes (around 6-12mos). This visit is less of a traditional exam, and more of a “primer” for future dental visits. We will introduce your child to our various tools and ease them into what can be a very stressful setting. Depending on patient compliance, we will do a quick check of the mouth, followed by a health history review and educational discussion (for parents). All this is conducted in our fun and imaginative children’s room!

Undoubtedly, your child’s specific developmental patterns, needs and concerns will vary from the information in this article. With this in mind, it is imperative that they come in for regular dental examinations and check-ups. Many problems- from tooth decay to some developmental issues, can be corrected easily if caught early on. We hope to see you and your loved ones at our office- to make sure everyone is on the right track for dental success!

CariFree Rinse and MI Paste

    For the majority of our patients, standard home dental maintenance is sufficient to maintain strong, healthy teeth. Unfortunately, some individuals are always battling tooth decay and cavities, no matter how diligently they floss and brush. Modern dental research has given rise to a number of great products that can help these patients in a safe and predictable manner. At our office, we have two great solutions that can add extra power to your daily routine- Carifree CTx3 Rinse and MI Paste.

    Before we explain how these products work, let’s do a quick review of the anatomy of tooth decay:

      1) Your teeth are made of calcium and phosphate

      2) Acid erodes tooth structure, which releases the calcium and phosphate

      3) Acid can arise from food, bacteria eating food, medication or other body systems

      4) Your saliva can help remineralize tooth structure, but only if the mouth isn’t acidic AND there is enough saliva present (i.e. not dry mouth)

      5) Certain compounds, such as fluoride, can encourage and promote your teeth to take in more calcium and phosphate, above what your saliva does.

With all this in mind, lets take a look at how these wonderful products can help mitigate further degradation of tooth structure!

    Carifree CTx3 Rinse is a “mouthwash” type product that you use once a day before going to bed. While your mouth becomes dried out during the night, CTx3 rinse provides a whole spectrum of benefits to combat potential decay. Firstly, it’s pH neutral formula prevents extreme acidic events. Essentially, your mouth is protected from a low pH environment, which can soften tooth structure and erode enamel. Secondly, it contains a therapeutic dose of xylitol, a natural plant derived sugar. When your mouth bacteria metabolize xylitol, their acid production is limited or stopped. Additionally, xylitol can stimulate saliva flow, which is excellent for combatting almost every facet of decay. Finally, the CTx3 contains fluoride, a carrier ion that helps calcium phosphate integrate and remineralize existing tooth structure.

    MI Paste is a “toothpaste” like cream that is applied to the teeth right before bedtime. This product utilizes a patented form of bio-available calcium phosphate called Recaldent. It is purified from dairy products (but contains almost no lactose) and is identical to the calcium phosphate that makes up your teeth. The idea behind MI Paste is that by saturating the teeth in the building blocks for remineralization, enamel can repair itself faster and more efficiently. On top of preventing tooth decay, this paste is excellent at minimizing whitening sensitivity. By giving tooth enamel extra fortification, the microtubules within teeth are less susceptible to conduct sensitivity.

    Whether you prefer a rinse or paste, CTx3 and MI Paste are great products. Both are made in a number of flavors and are available at our office. Remember, length of exposure is key to both of these product’s success. Do not eat, drink or rinse after applying either; let them sit on your teeth overnight. If you have any questions on these products, how they are used, or who might benefit from them, do not hesitate to contact our office. We want your mouth to be happy and healthy, and have a number of great products to get you there!

Home Whitening- Frequently Asked Questions

With so many whitening options, which one is best for me?

If you spend enough time watching tv or browsing the internet, you are bound to see some sort of advertisement for teeth bleaching. With such a huge demand and emphasis on facial esthetics, many companies and organizations are trying to win your business with the promise of a whiter smile. At Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry, we wanted to take a moment to inform you on the hows and whys of whitening so that you can make the best decision for your personal needs. Take a look at our home whitening frequently asked questions:

1. How does whitening work?

Whitening, whether done at a dental office or in your own home with over the counter products, is all based on the oxidation powers of hydrogen peroxide (or a peroxide derivative). Deep tooth stains penetrate past the outer enamel into an inner layer called the dentin. This is the part of the tooth that locks in stains and becomes discolored. During whitening, the peroxide is conducted to the dentin via tubules in the teeth and reaches the stained tissue. The peroxide then removes color by oxidizing the pigments, which effectively removes their ability to absorb light. This reaction is a function of peroxide concentration and time. The longer you can keep a higher concentration of peroxide on the teeth, the more drastic and enduring your results will be.

Whitening adresses pigmentation in the tooth dentin. This layer is situated between the outer enamel and the inner pulp chamber. 

2. Do all whitening procedures work this way?

Any whitening procedure that addresses the root cause of deep staining will rely on some sort of peroxide therapy. The dental profession does not recognize an other/better way to remove discoloration from tooth dentin.

3. My toothpaste/floss/mouthwash says “whitening” on it, but does not have any peroxide content. What does this mean?

Many products marketed by mainstream dental companies promise a whiter, brighter smile with their use. Again, if the product does not contain a form of hydrogen peroxide it will not be able to remove deep stains within the teeth. On the backs of many of these products, the “whitening” properties are clarified: the scope of their effectiveness is limited to surface stains. This makes sense too; the abrasive properties of these products would make them excellent candidates for removing pigmentation at the outermost layer of the teeth. However, they will not address staining in the same fashion as a peroxide based treatment.

4. Are there any “all natural” whitening techniques that work as good as commercial products (i.e. strawberries and baking soda)?

The internet is full of articles on whitening your teeth via strawberries and baking soda or other “natural” techniques. Unfortunately, modern scientific research does not confirm any of these treatments and actually provides good reasons to avoid them. Strawberries, while delicious and full of great nutrients, are highly pigmented, acidic and sugary. This combination makes them horrible candidates for brushing with/leaving on your teeth. While the color may lead to further staining, the sugar and acid can actually lead to tooth decay. However, fear not!

Hydrogen peroxide is a perfectly healthy and safe way to whiten your smile and will not cause damage to your teeth.

5. How do home whitening solutions differ from those provided at Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry.

The only difference between a whitening service you would receive at our office and one you would purchase at a store is concentration of peroxide. The higher the peroxide concentration, the quicker the results. However, more peroxide necessitates more precise methods of delivery. This is done to prevent excess material from coming into contact with your gums/tongue and bleaching or irritating them.  When performing in office Zoom! treatments, we take about 20 minutes to block out all of your gum tissue with a special material to avoid any extra bleaching. With this level of precision, we can use a 35% bleach. Trays can be provided with a concentration up to 20%, as they “lock in” the peroxide around the tooth. Whitening strips and other take home products can only be sold with about 10% peroxide, as they are not custom made and are almost guaranteed to touch the gum tissue.

6. How long does whitening last?

The great news about whitening is that once you achieve a tooth shade you are happy with, it will remain stable for quite some time. We recommend you follow the manufacturer’s instructions until you reach your desired shade. Beyond that, you can use the product once a month (usually, varies product to product) as a means of “touching up” your smile. You can keep the whitening product in your fridge for longer shelf life, and remove it an hour before application.

7. Will my teeth be sensitive?

Peroxide causes sensitivity as it has to open tubules within the teeth to enter the inner dentin. Once these tubules are open, they are more sensitive to movement, air and cold temperatures. It is hard to predict sensitivity in patients who have never whitened before. However, many over the counter pain medicines are great at minimizing whitening pain. If you have questions about whitening sensitivity and how to minimize it, feel free to call our office.

We hope this information will help you better choose a whitening system that is best for your unique circumstances. If you want any more information on home whitening or would like to know about the whitening services offered at our office, please give us a call. We are always happy and eager to inform our patients on the best products and services available!