Teeth Whitening Q&A

What causes teeth staining?

There are several common causes of teeth staining, including:

• Coffee
• Soda
• Wine
• Cigarette smoking or chewing tobacco
• Some medications, including specific antibiotics

The natural aging process can also play a role in your tooth color. Some enamel erosion is normal as you age, and that allows the dentin — the slightly darker layer under the enamel — to show through more. 

Fortunately, teeth whitening can lift virtually any type of stains or discoloration from your teeth to give you a brighter and whiter smile.

How does teeth whitening work?

Arizona Dental Heights offers two types of teeth whitening, including:

In-office GLO

For the in-office GLO whitening treatment, your provider applies a hydrogen peroxide gel directly onto the fronts of your tooth. 

Then, they place a special mouthpiece over your mouth to deliver neon blue LED light and low-level warmth. The light and heat energize the whitening gel to help it quickly and efficiently lift stains. The whole process takes less than 60 minutes. 

At-home GLO

For an at-home GLO treatment, you’ll brush gel to your teeth and then apply the provided rechargeable mouthpiece over your teeth for eight-minute sessions.

Just as with the in-office treatment, light and heat combine to remove tooth stains. The gel in the take-home GLO kit isn’t as strong as that used in the in-office treatment, so you may get more dramatic whitening in the office. 

GLO whitening gels don’t cause sensitivity or pain, so it’s appropriate for nearly any adult who wants whiter teeth. 

What kind of results can I get from teeth whitening?

With GLO in-office whitening, you can expect significant whitening up to eight shades lighter in just one session. With GLO at-home whitening, you can achieve up to five shades of lightening in five to seven days of daily use. 

How can I maintain whiter teeth after teeth whitening?

Arizona Dental Heights provides customized tips for keeping your teeth white after GLO treatment. These tips may include avoiding dark beverages (or using a straw if you do drink them), quitting smoking, and scheduling teeth cleanings every six months. 

You can also buy GLO To Go, which are easy-to-use whitening pens that work well for touch-ups if your teeth start looking darker. 

Learn more about teeth whitening at Arizona Dental Heights by calling the office or scheduling online.