Cosmetic Dentistry Archives

How Can I Remove Coffee Stains From My Teeth?

June 15, 2021 by Admin

Coffee is a popular beverage, and many enjoy that cup or two in the morning each day. The downside to coffee is that it can cause staining on your teeth. There are treatments patients can do at home, or in our office to remove those annoying coffee stains. At Graceful Smiles Dentistry, we offer many cosmetic dental services, and one of our most popular is teeth whitening treatment.

If you are tired of looking at yellow or stained teeth from coffee, then Graceful Smiles Dentistry is here to help. Our team provides a detailed consultation process to evaluate your teeth and mouth, and create a customized treatment that will work for you. We will discuss all of your teeth whitening options, and give you tips and tricks on how to keep your teeth white at home.

Why Does Coffee Stain Our Teeth?

Coffee contains tannins, and this helps give coffee that deep flavor and brown color. Our teeth are filled with many little pores, and the tannins tend to stick to our teeth when we drink coffee. Plaque attracts the tannins and those can easily be cleaned away. Stains on the enamel of your teeth will need to be treated with a tooth whitening procedure.

How Can Teeth Whitening Help?

Teeth whitening procedures can be done in our office or in the comfort of your own home. Our treatments use a high-quality gel to whiten your teeth safely, and remove coffee stains. The peroxides in the gel are able to reach through the enamel and bleach the stain away. Teeth whitening can restore your smile, and give you bright white teeth in just a few treatments. Let our team help you transform your teeth and restore your confidence. To find out more about our in-office or at-home whitening services, we encourage you to schedule a cosmetic consultation.

What Can I Do at Home To Prevent Coffee Stains?

Drink your coffee through a straw to avoid direct contact with your teeth.
Use a whitening toothpaste or mouthwash.
Rinse your mouth out or brush your teeth after drinking coffee.
Avoid charcoal toothpaste as this can damage your enamel.

Interested in Whitening Your Teeth?

If you are interested in finding out more about our teeth whitening services, contact Graceful Smiles Dentistry, and our friendly staff will be happy to help you.

Does Teeth Whitening Cause any Dental Problems?

April 7, 2021April 1, 2021 by Admin

Teeth Whitening treatments are popular for patients that have tooth discoloration, or for those that just want a brighter smile. Whitening your teeth can be done safely and there are several options to choose from. If the directions are followed patients can successfully whiten their teeth with no side effects. Teeth whitening boosts self-confidence, can change a patient’s smile quickly, and make you feel great.

What Are My Options for Teeth Whitening?

If you have decided to whiten your teeth there are a few options to choose from. We offer teeth whitening treatments in our office, and this typically is a faster way to get the results you desire. We also offer a treatment you can take with you and whiten in the convenience of your own home.

Both options give great results patients are happy with. In addition to those two options there are over the counter whitening treatments that can help you whiten your teeth. Part of the evaluation process is to take a good look at your teeth and the level of discoloration, your age, and dental history to help you decide what treatment options will work best.

What Are Common Side Effects With Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening is perfectly safe, but there are a few side effects that patients can experience.

Teeth Sensitivity

When you whiten your teeth the product gets deep into the tooth enamel. In some cases patients can experience sensitivity after teeth whitening treatments. We may recommend you use a sensitive type tooth paste to help with any sensitivity after whitening.

Irritated Gums

Gum irritation is another common issue when patients decide to whiten your teeth. In some cases patients are sensitive to the whitening treatment. This typically goes away after your treatment is complete.

Whitening treatments can be done periodically to keep teeth looking bright white. Whitening treatments are for patients with natural teeth. If you have implants, crowns, bridges, or dentures and want to whiten your teeth, we recommend scheduling a consultation to discuss your options. If you suffer from many cavities we recommend those are treated before any whitening treatment begins. Depending on each case we can help determine if teeth whitening is right for you.

How To Keep My Teeth Looking White

There are things you can do at home to help keep your teeth looking bright white. Avoiding food and beverages that may stain your teeth like coffee, tea, or red wine. If you do eat or drink something that may stain your teeth it is a good idea to rinse or brush right afterwards to help decrease staining.

Looking To Whiten Your Teeth?

Teeth whitening is a great way to give you a bright white smile. Whitening your teeth is safe and easy, and does not cause many side effects or issues. Scheduling a consultation with our team to examine your teeth and discuss your goals is a great way to start the process. Our skilled professionals will help you decide what treatment is best, and help get you on the road to a brighter smile.

If you are interested in scheduling a consultation to find out if teeth whitening is right for you, contact our office and our staff will be happy to assist you.

What is the Most Permanent Teeth Whitening Procedure?

March 15, 2021 by Admin

Choosing to whiten your teeth is a way to brighten your smile and boost confidence. Many patients look for a process that lasts the longest and requires minimal maintenance going forward. Teeth whitening options include in office whitening systems, systems you take home given to you by your dentist, and over the counter treatments. Talking with your dentist about your goals can help you to choose the best treatment that will work for you.

Teeth whitening targets two types of stains. The first is intrinsic, and this type of discoloration is more permanent and caused by an injury, medications, or fluoride overexposure. Intrinsic stains can be harder to whiten and may not respond well to teeth whitening. The other type of stain is extrinsic. Extrinsic stains are stains on the surface or outer layer of enamel. This type of stain is caused by dark liquids or foods. The best way to treat both types of stains is with a professional tooth whitening system.

What Procedure Is the Best and Will Last the Longest?

The systems provided by your dentist in their office are typically the strongest and long lasting treatments. They offer the most dramatic results and are quicker compared to other methods. Typically this type of whitening treatment takes less than an hour, and uses a light to activate the gel to penetrate deeply into your teeth. Once you have completed the in office process you can opt to take a whitening treatment kit with you. This allows patients to keep up with their whitening treatments at home.

Many in office treatments can target both intrinsic and extrinsic stains giving patients amazing results in little time. In office treatments can brighten teeth up to 16 shades lighter and the results last longer. In some cases depending on the treatment used, touch up treatments afterwards are not required.

Scheduling a Consultation

The first step to whiter brighter teeth is scheduling a consultation in our office. This gives our doctor the opportunity to examine your teeth and gums, and determine if you are a good candidate. Our team discusses each patient’s goals, and we work with you to choose the whitening system that will work best. Documenting your progress from start to finish is a great way for patients to track their results.

Interested in Finding Out More?

Take that next step to a whiter smile, and inquire about our whitening treatments. We care about your oral health and want you to be proud of your smile.

To schedule your teeth whitening consultation, contact our office, and our friendly staff will be happy to assist you.

What Should I Look For When Choosing a Cosmetic Dentist?

February 22, 2021February 21, 2021 by Admin

Cosmetic dentists can help enhance or improve the appearance of your teeth, gums, and jaw. If you are unhappy with your smile, or have cracked, broken, or misshapen teeth, finding a good cosmetic dentist is important. Cosmetic dentistry focuses on the overall appearance of your smile. This includes the color, shape, size, and position of your teeth.

Searching for a good cosmetic dentist can be stressful, but knowing what to look out for can help you find a dentist that is perfect for you.

What to Consider When Searching for a Cosmetic Dentist

Check for a dentist’s credentials by visiting their website and reading a biography about the doctor. If this is not available contact the office directly to collect this information.
Ask for referrals and talk to people that have had prior cosmetic dental procedures.
Look for a dentist that has continuing education. Continuing education shows that a dentist is constantly improving their knowledge, learning new techniques using the latest technology, and expanding on skills.
When reading their biography look to see how long they have been practicing cosmetic dentistry and how many procedures they have done over the years.
Look at before and after photos to help get a good idea of the doctor’s skills.
Schedule a cosmetic consultation to learn about the doctor and practice. Consultations allow you to discuss your concerns, and learn about what treatment options are available. This will also give you a good idea if you feel comfortable with the dentist you choose.

Choosing the best cosmetic dentist for you is important. Knowing their background, expertise, and work they have done can help you make a decision. Achieving that perfect smile to boost confidence, or correct an issue can be life changing. Taking charge of your dental health can give you that smile you have always wanted.

Looking to Schedule a Cosmetic Consultation?

Our detailed consultation process gives patients the ability to discuss their concerns and smile goals. Our skilled team will examine your mouth, teeth, and jaw and recommend treatment options that work for you. Starting with a consultation can give you the ability learn about our doctors, practice, and help you decide what treatment may be best.

To schedule your cosmetic consultation and begin the process to that perfect smile, contact our office and our staff will be happy to assist you.

What Can a Cosmetic Dentist Do?

December 30, 2020 by Admin

Cosmetic Dentists help enhance or improve the appearance of the teeth, gums, or jaw. When patients are not happy with their smile, or those who have chipped, cracked, or misshapen teeth, cosmetic dentistry can help give you that perfect smile. Cosmetic dentistry focuses on the overall appearance of a patient’s smile including the color, position, shape, and size of the teeth. Understanding what a cosmetic dentist can do will help you decide what type of dentist you may need.

Cosmetic dentistry offers many services to enhance your smile. We offer a detailed consultation process that allows our team to examine your teeth and mouth to determine the recommended treatment. We also take the time to let the patient explain their concerns, and what they like or dislike about their smile. Our team is there every step of the way to help guide our patients, and choose a treatment that works best for them.

What Cosmetic Services Are Available?

Smile Makeovers
Facial Rejuvenation
Teeth Whitening
Invisalign
Gum Contouring
Dental Crowns
Porcelain Veneers
Dental Bonding
Dental Implants

Cosmetic dentistry can help brighten your smile, straighten your teeth, and make your teeth look more uniform and natural. If you have damage or an injury, you do not need to live with these issues. Cosmetic dentistry can help fix these imperfections. Missing teeth can be corrected, and you can enjoy a beautiful smile without anyone knowing you had missing teeth. Leaving missing teeth in your mouth can lead to bone loss or other complications, so it is important to address your issues as soon as possible.

Looking to Take That Next Step?

Taking that first step to call our office is all you have to do to get on the road to a beautiful smile you can be proud to show off. Creating beautiful smiles is what we do, and our team is here to provide the very best care available. Using the latest technology we can transform your teeth into a bright white smile.

If you are unhappy with your smile, or are interested in finding out what procedures are available, contact our office, and our staff will be happy to set up your consultation.

How Can I Whiten My Teeth At Home?

January 22, 2020January 22, 2020 by Admin

Don’t hold your smile back! A bright and shiny smile boosts your confidence. Pearly white teeth not only enhance the beauty, but they also indicate how good and consistent about your oral hygiene.

If you are wondering how to make your teeth whiter fast – no need to worry about it, in this post you’ll get super easy, effective and informative tips to restore your pearly white teeth at home.

How Can I Get White Teeth At Home?

Some tips that you can consider following to get white teeth at home include:

Drink Water

Chase your dark liquids such as red wine or black coffee with water. It takes 30-seconds for the stain to penetrate, so drinking water along with your wine and coffee will assist in washing any would-be stains away.

Avoid Certain Foods

Despite red wine and coffee, there are certain foods that also lead to stains, and these stains are even tougher to remove. If dark foods and beverages stain your white shirt, then they will also stain your shiny white teeth.

In order to avoid staining, you must brush your teeth immediately after ingesting any form of dark foods and beverages. In case you cannot brush immediately after a meal, then rinse your mouth with clean water. It will also help you to keep your teeth white.

Add Milk To Your Tea

The addition of milk to your tea decreased the tea’s ability to stain your teeth. Unfortunately, this doesn’t apply to coffee and other dark beverages.

Brush Teeth Twice a Day

Practicing good oral hygiene regularly takes a long way to whitening your teeth. Currently, every dentist recommends using electronic brushes instead of manual brushes. Because electronic brushes clean better and deeper than a manual one. In order to whiten your teeth, you may need to update your manual brush with an electronic one.

Try to Floss Regularly

Food particles and plaque between the teeth can affect your bright smile overall, so don’t ever neglect to floss. Start making a habit of flossing every day with various gentle flossing kits.

Don’t Smoke

Smoking leads teeth to decay and discolor, and can also become a cause of tooth loss. In addition, the exposure of nicotine leaves the mouth unable to fight effectively with infection, which leads plaque buildup as well as provides bacteria and germs rampant to run. Moreover, it will not only harm your oral health, but it will badly affect your overall health condition. In order to restore your shiny smile, you need to work on your oral hygiene habits, as well as you need to take care about your diet.

Contact Graceful Smiles Dentistry

At Graceful Smiles, we provide exceptional dental care for patients of all ages. We take care of our families, and ensure that each appointment is a positive experience for everyone.

If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with Dr. Elsa Mammen, please contact our dental office in Richmond, TX today!

What happens during professional teeth whitening?

January 22, 2020October 19, 2019 by Admin

If you have dull or stained teeth, or just want your teeth
brighter and whiter, professional teeth whitening may be right for you. Teeth
whitening removes stains from your teeth by deeply penetrating the teeth while
you sleep.

At Graceful Smiles, we use the Kor Whitening system. This
system uses a refrigerated whitening gel that is used overnight. This gel is
highly potent, and gives patients the results they desire by removing stains
from tea, coffee, and tobacco.

Impressions will be taken of your teeth to create custom trays
that will be worn over night using the whitening gel. The Kor trays are
designed to lock out saliva during treatment to prevent the saliva from
destroying the whitening gel. This provides a highly effective whitening
treatment that gives exceptional results.

Our staff will discuss how long to wear the trays, and send
home instructions for each patient to follow. Patients are to wear the trays
each night for around two weeks. Once that is complete, we will have you return
to our office to do a shade comparison to see your results. Typically patients
see results that are 16 shades whiter than before.

How long do permanent veneers last?

October 16, 2019October 12, 2019 by Admin

Veneers are porcelain shells that are bonded to teeth. Veneers match the color and shade of your natural teeth, and give patients a beautiful smile.

Veneers are typically used for chipped, stained, or uneven teeth. They give a uniform and bright white look. A cement material is used to apply the veneers to teeth.

Veneers are made out of a durable porcelain, and are permanent and long lasting. Typically veneers last anywhere between 10-15 years, but this depends on the amount of wear and tear to the veneers. In order to ensure the veneers last, patients must take good care of their teeth.

Tips to ensure your veneers last:

If you suffer from bruxism or clench your teeth regularly, you may want to consider wearing a mouthguard to protect your veneers from damage.

Avoid biting any hard objects or food that may damage your veneers.

Avoid biting your nails as this can damage your veneers.

If veneers are taken care of, they will last for years. We recommend following good oral hygiene habits that include brushing and flossing daily. It is important to attend your regular dental visits in our office to ensure your veneers continue to look and feel great.

If you are interested in finding out of veneers are right for you, contact Graceful Smiles to schedule your appointment.

Are Veneers as strong as teeth?

January 22, 2020September 24, 2019 by Admin

Veneers are shells made out of porcelain that are bonded to your teeth. They match the color and shade of your natural teeth, giving patients the smile they have always dreamed of.

When veneers are bonded to the front of your teeth, a cement material is used. Veneers are typically used for chipped, stained, or uneven teeth. Veneers give a uniform look that is natural and bright white.

Veneers are durable and made out of porcelain, which makes them long lasting. On average, veneers last anywhere between 10-15 years, and this depends on wear and tear. Patients must take good care of their teeth to ensure their veneers will last.

Tips to care for Veneers:

Avoid biting any hard objects or foods with your teeth.

If you suffer from bruxism or clench your teeth, a mouthguard may be helpful. Wearing a mouthguard will help prevent damage to the veneers.

Avoid biting your nails as this can damage your veneers.

Veneers are extremely durable if they are cared for properly. Brushing and flossing daily is recommended, as well as regular visits to our office.

If you are interested in finding out more about veneers and if they are right for you, contact Graceful Smiles Dentistry to schedule your appointment.