All posts by writeradmin

Teeth Whitening

Can I bleach my teeth with clorox?

I’ve been using whitening toothpaste for months now and my teeth are no whiter. I really want to whiten my teeth, so I’m wondering if I can use my bleach at home, like Clorox?

Anthony P.- Miami, FL

Anthony,

The ingredient that dentists use to whiten your teeth is not bleach. Bleach will actually poison you, so under no circumstances should you use Clorox. In small amounts, bleach can remove moisture from your teeth. That will cause them to weaken and become brittle. Small amounts also causes vomiting and stomach irritation. Larger amounts act as a poison causing heart issues, shock, and death.

The whitening toothpastes cannot do a deep whitening, like you can get from your dentist’s office. The most it can do is remove surface stains. If your stains are below the surface you will not be satisfied with anything but professional results.

My suggestion is that you go to your dentist and ask for professional teeth whitening. The gel they use will oxidize  your teeth from the inside out, eliminating all your stains and giving you a bright, white smile.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Gum Disease

Gum overgrowth

Is it normal for gums to kind of grow down as you get older? When I turned 14 mine started creeping down. It makes me look weird. How can I fix it?

Miranda R.- Minnesota

Miranda,

Sometimes the hormonal changes your body goes through during puberty can lead to gum overgrowth. If it is from hormones, it will fix itself when your hormone levels normalize. However, this can also be caused from poor oral hygiene and can lead to gingivitis (gum disease).

Sometimes an antibiotic will be needed to deal with bacteria, but this really depends on the severity of your case. I recommend you talk to your dentist and see what he or she thinks.

You may also be interested in learning about Porcelain Veneers.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Teeth Whitening

Review of Luster White Premium At Home Teeth Whitening

Luster White Premium is advertised as an at-home type of Zoom Whitening. Does it really work?  Your teeth will get whiter….for a while, then the whitening will fade away. Rather than the whitening coming from a bleaching agent that whitens your teeth from the inside out as you get with professional teeth whitening, Luster White has a pigment in the “super whitener”–zinc oxide– that sticks to your teeth and makes them look whiter. This is  only temporary. The light that come with the kit does nothing and seems to only be psychological in nature.

My opinion is that it is a waste of money. If you’re determined to do an over-the-counter kit instead of professional teeth whitening, than I’d suggest Crest Whitestrips. They will whiten your teeth, though it will take significantly longer than it would if you went through a dentist.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Crooked Teeth

Straightening teeth as an adult

I’m 41 and can finally afford to get my teeth straightened. The problem is when I see adults with braces I think they look ridiculous. Is there another way to straighten teeth?

Daniel- Madison, WI

Daniel,

There are a couple of ways to get your teeth straightened without traditional braces:

The first is to use Invisalign. These aligners cannot be seen, even at a conversational distance. They also straighten your teeth in about half the time of traditional braces.

Another option is to get porcelain veneers. These don’t actually straighten your teeth, but will make them look straight. They can be done in about two appointments. One to design your smile and the other to have them bonded on.

You and your dentist can discuss which is the best option for you.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Sensitive Teeth

Root exposure sensitivity

I have a lot of root exposure which has caused quite a bit of sensitivity. None of the sensitive teeth toothpastes are giving any help. Are there any other options?

Allysa W.- Birmingham, AL

Allysa,

Tooth sensitivity is very difficult to deal with. I can list three options for you, but recommend you talk with your dentist about which will be best for you to try.

  • Prescription fluoride rinse: There are two types of fluoride rinses, a sodium based and a stannous based. More patients have expressed getting relief from the stannous based, so I would recommend trying that one first. If after 5-6 weeks you don’t see any improvement you can try something else.
  • Fluoride varnish: This is applied to your root surfaces after your routine dental cleanings. Many patients find relief that lasts several months. It will have to be reapplied at each cleaning.
  • White composite fillings: These can be placed over your exposed root surfaces. You will get immediate relief, but it is considered a last resort option.

You may also be interested in reading about Mercury-free dental services.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

White Fillings

Fillings without mercury

Hi, I have to get my first filling. My dentist wants to do one of those silver ones that has mercury in them. I really don’t want any mercury in my body. My friend Dana said there are white ones that don’t have any mercury in them. Where can I find those?

Thanks for the help, Jennie.

Jennie,

You are wanting what is called a composite filling. However, don’t push your dentist to do a filling he is not comfortable with. He is probably pushing the amalgam filling because that is what he is comfortable with. If you pressure him to do another kind you won’t be happy with the results, because he won’t have adequate training on how to place them.

My recommendation is that you do a search for a mercury-free dentist. They will be very confident placing composite fillings.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Dental Implants

Will medical insurance cover implants?

I need to get some upper teeth replaced. I tried a partial dental plate, but it was almost impossible for me. I kept gagging and it was to trying to eat with. Because of that I was wondering if my medical insurance will cover getting dental implants. I think it would be much easier to deal with.

Stephanie B.- Lansing, MI

Stephanie,

Generally, medical insurance has a dental work exclusion in it. Occasionally, you’ll get it to cover dental work that happens as a result of an accident. In order to get any coverage for dental implants, you’ll have to turn to your dental insurance.

I hope this helps.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Tooth Infections

Putting off an infection

I had a root canal and a crown put on a tooth several years ago. A couple of weeks ago it became infected. My dentist gave me an antibiotic. He said the tooth is cracked and there is little chance of another successful root canal. He recommends removing the tooth. It is not hurting anymore, so I think the infection is gone. I’d hate to remove the tooth unnecessarily. Can I just put this off seeing as it doesn’t hurt anymore?

Jenny I.- Oklahoma

Jenny,

No, I don’t recommend putting off the extraction. The infection is still there, it is just being held at bay by your antibiotics. As soon as you stop taking them the infection will flare back up. The only way to completely get rid of it is to treat it at the source.

It will be safer to extract the tooth now when the extraction while the infection is under control. There are ways to replace your tooth that will look perfectly natural. You might be interested in learning about dental implants.

This blog is brought to you by Vista Dorada Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

White Fillings

Pain with white fillings

I had a white filling placed almost five months ago. A month ago I went back in to have it smoothed out because my floss kept getting caught on it. Since then I’ve been getting this horrible pain whenever I take a bite. I went back in to have it x-rayed. My dentist didn’t see anything and thinks it is just post-operative pain. The problem is I can’t eat anything. What do I do? The pain is getting worse.

Anthony S.- New Mexico

Anthony,

I would go see an endodontist. If this were just post-operative soreness, your pain would be getting better–not worse. When pain progresses instead of lessening, that is generally a sign there is an infection somewhere and a root canal treatment is in order. Take the x-rays your dentist already took. An endodontist might be able to see an infection that your dentist didn’t see.

You may also be interested in learning about CEREC Crowns.

This blog is brought to you by Gilbert Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.

Porcelain Veneers

Supersmile Toothpaste

Is it safe to clean my porcelain veneers with supersmile toothpaste?

Deni R. -Rhode Island

Deni,

Yes, in fact, supersmile toothpaste is designed for porcelain veneers and other kinds of dental work. This is a great way to maintain the brightness of your smile, because it dissolves the protein pellicle that your teeth stains will attach to.

This blog is brought to you by Vista Dorada Dentist Dr. Matt Roper.