Want to perk up your smile? Professional whitening is often the quickest way, and bonding, veneers or Invisalign can handle the rest. A brighter smile can change how you feel in personal and work settings, and it gives you one more reason to show your teeth. Here's how to choose the right lift for your smile at Southern York Smile Care.
A Smile You Want to Show Off
Many people don't realize how much their teeth have dulled until they see an old photo. Coffee, tea, red wine, dark sodas, berries and tobacco all leave stains over time. Age plays a part too. As enamel slowly thins, more of the yellower layer underneath shows through.
Whiter teeth make a smile look brighter, healthier and more youthful. People often say they feel more confident and more willing to smile in photos, at work and around new people after whitening. It's one of the simplest cosmetic changes, and one of the most noticeable.
The good news is that you have choices. Some fixes take a single visit, others are planned over a few months, and most can be combined. The right mix depends on what bothers you most about your smile and how quickly you want to see a change.
Store Kits vs. Professional Whitening
There are a few ways to whiten your teeth, and they range in cost and speed.
Store-bought kits
Whitening strips, gels and toothpastes are the lowest-cost option. They can help with mild surface stains. But they usually take weeks, the results often don't last, and the one-size-fits-all strips may not reach every tooth evenly. They also can't tell you whether your stains will respond to bleaching at all.
Professional in-office whitening
In-office whitening is the quickest and easiest route to a noticeably brighter smile. At Southern York Smile Care, laser whitening gives a brighter smile from the first visit. Your gums are protected, a professional whitening gel is applied, and a light helps activate it. Because it's done by your dentist, your teeth and gums are checked first, and the treatment is planned for your teeth.
Learn more on the teeth whitening page, or read pamper yourself with professional teeth whitening.
Is professional whitening safe?
When it's done under a dentist's care, whitening is considered safe for most adults. The main side effect is temporary sensitivity. What matters is starting with healthy teeth. Whitening gel can irritate teeth with open cavities, cracked fillings or exposed roots, and receding gums can make sensitivity worse. That's why a quick exam comes first. If you have decay or gum problems, those are treated before you whiten. Whitening isn't usually recommended during pregnancy or for young children, so ask if either applies to your family.
Not All Stains Are the Same
Whitening works best on yellow and brown surface stains from food, drinks and tobacco. Some discoloration doesn't respond as well:
- Gray or blue-gray teeth, sometimes caused by certain medications taken while teeth were forming.
- A single dark tooth, which may be a sign of an old injury or a nerve problem and should be checked.
- White spots or uneven patches in the enamel.
- Fillings, crowns and veneers, which don't change color with bleaching.
For these, bonding or veneers may give a better result. Our article all tooth stains are not created equal explains the difference. If you're unsure, an exam will tell you what to expect before you spend anything.
Whitening can cause short-term sensitivity for some people. It usually fades within a day or two. Let your dentist know if your teeth are already sensitive, so the treatment can be planned around it.
More Problems? There Are Solutions
Sometimes color isn't the only thing holding your smile back. Southern York Smile Care offers a full range of cosmetic and general dental care for other common concerns.
Chipped or worn teeth
Cosmetic bonding repairs small chips and worn edges with tooth-colored resin, often in a single visit. For bigger changes in shape or color, porcelain veneers cover the front of the teeth with thin, stain-resistant porcelain.
Crooked or gapped teeth
Invisalign clear aligners straighten teeth without metal braces. Dr. Steven Haywood is an Elite Invisalign Provider. For some cosmetic cases, instant orthodontics with veneers is another option.
An uneven gumline
If your gums sit higher on some teeth than others, or your smile shows a lot of gum, a cosmetic gum lift can create a more even frame for your teeth.
Missing teeth
A gap is one of the most noticeable smile problems. Dental implants replace missing teeth with a strong, natural-looking result and help protect the jawbone.
When you'd like to change several things at once, a complete smile makeover brings them together in one plan. Cosmetic imaging can preview the result first.
Keeping Your Smile Bright
Once your teeth are whiter, a few habits help keep them that way:
- Rinse with water after coffee, tea or red wine.
- Use a straw for dark or sugary drinks.
- Brush twice a day and clean between your teeth daily.
- Avoid tobacco, which stains quickly.
- Keep up with professional cleanings. Cleanings at the office are a full 60 minutes and remove surface stains along with tartar.
- Ask about touch-up whitening when your shade starts to fade.
With good care, whitening results can last a long time. Learn more about dental cleanings.
Small changes, big difference
Perking up your smile doesn't have to mean a big project. For many people, a professional cleaning and whitening are enough to look and feel refreshed. Others add a bonding touch-up on one chipped tooth. Starting small lets you see how you feel about the change before deciding on anything more. Your dentist can help you set priorities, so you spend where it makes the most visible difference for your smile.
Comfortable, Experienced Care
Dr. Haywood has more than 35 years in practice, trained in cosmetic dentistry through the NYU Aesthetic Continuum and has been seen on ABC's Extreme Makeover. Read more on the meet the doctor page and see real results in the smile gallery.
If dental visits make you nervous, oral sedation is available. See sedation dentistry. Southern York Smile Care is out of network with every insurer: you pay at the visit and the office files the claim for reimbursement. CareCredit and Cherry payment plans are available. See the financing page.
Brighten Your Smile in Shrewsbury
The hardest part is picking up the phone. Call Southern York Smile Care at (717) 235-3871 or request an appointment, and you'll be on your way to a brighter smile. The office is at 4 S. Main St in Shrewsbury and welcomes patients from York, southern York County and northern Baltimore County.
DDS cum laude 1987, US Air Force residency, NYU cosmetic training and Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists, with 35+ years in practice.
Meet Dr. Haywood →
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