It seems like everyone is trying tooth-whitening products to brighten their smile. Are you one of them? There are many products you can try at home: white strips, paint-on gels, brightening toothpastes or mouthwashes.

According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, tooth whitening is the No. 1 cosmetic service requested of dentists. And nationally, we spend more than $1 billion a year on over-the-counter tooth-bleaching products.

But can whitening treatments in Garden City turn into too much of a good thing? It’s entirely possible. Just as people become obsessed with plastic surgery, or working out constantly to achieve super fitness, some people become “addicted” to tooth-whitening.

You may think your teeth are indestructible. But bleaching products can permanently damage your tissues. Dr. Irwin Smigel, president of the American Society for Dental Aesthetics says he’s had patients who have required root canals because they’ve overbleached. Tooth enamel can wear away from too much bleaching. Your teeth can become translucent, or turn blue or gray…just the opposite of what of the smile you want.

Not every whitening treatment is right for everybody. Dr. Nancy Tobin offers several advanced whitening systems that will give you a noticeably whiter smile in as little as an hour in her office, or in about a week at home.

Dr. Tobin uses the in-office Zoom!2 Advanced Power Whitening to make your teeth up to 8 shades whiter (sometimes more) in just an hour. For patients who would rather whiten at home, she will give you Nite White custom-made whitening trays that you wear for about 20 minutes a day for a week. Both systems will transform your smile to a noticeably whiter color.

If you live in or near Garden City, Mineola, Floral Park, or Rockville Centre, please call our Garden City dental practice at 516.747.2535 for an exam and consultation. Tooth whitening is a wonderful gift to yourself, with benefits that extend well beyond just whiter teeth. Try it and see for yourself!