Teeth whitening is a fast, affordable, and non-invasive cosmetic treatment
You can reverse stains and yellowing and brighten your smile up to 10 shades or more
Restore your smile and feel more confident when you smile, speak, laugh, and eat around others
We offer take-home trays and whitening gel to give you complete control of the shade of white you prefer and strongly helps prevent the sensitivity that can happen following In House bleaching procedures.
Not all stains are created equal, and understanding what caused yours can help you get the most out of your whitening treatment. Tooth discoloration generally falls into two categories: extrinsic stains, which sit on the surface of the enamel, and intrinsic discoloration, which originates from within the tooth itself. Professional teeth whitening is highly effective at treating extrinsic stains, and Dr. Cox can help you determine whether whitening is the right solution for your specific situation.
Here are some of the most common culprits:
Two of the most widely consumed beverages in the world are also two of the biggest contributors to tooth staining. Coffee and tea contain tannins, naturally occurring compounds that cause pigments to cling to the surface of your enamel over time. Even light daily drinkers can notice a gradual yellowing that builds up over months and years. The good news is that these stains respond very well to professional whitening.
Like coffee and tea, red wine is high in tannins and also contains chromogens, intensely pigmented molecules that bind to tooth enamel with ease. Regular red wine drinkers often develop a grayish tint to their teeth that can be more stubborn than yellow staining. Professional-strength whitening gel is significantly more effective at addressing wine stains than any over-the-counter product.
Tobacco is one of the most aggressive staining agents there is. Whether smoked or used in other forms, tobacco introduces nicotine and tar into the mouth, both of which penetrate deeply into enamel over time. These stains often appear brown or dark yellow and can be some of the more challenging surface stains to treat. Professional whitening can make a dramatic difference, and pairing treatment with a commitment to quitting tobacco helps maintain your results long-term.
As you get older, the outer layer of enamel on your teeth naturally thins and becomes more translucent, allowing the slightly yellow inner layer of dentin to show through more prominently. This type of discoloration is not a surface stain in the traditional sense, but professional whitening can still help brighten the overall appearance of aging teeth.
Berries, tomato-based sauces, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, and heavily pigmented spices like turmeric are all capable of leaving stains on your enamel. These food-related stains typically accumulate gradually and respond well to whitening treatment.
Certain medications, most notably tetracycline antibiotics taken during childhood when teeth are still developing, can cause intrinsic discoloration that goes deeper than the enamel surface. Whitening is less effective for this type of staining, but Dr. Cox can discuss alternative cosmetic options that may be a better fit, such as veneers or bonding.
There is no shortage of whitening options available today, from strips at the grocery store to mail-order kits that arrive on your doorstep. So why choose professional whitening at Scarsdale Smiles? The answer comes down to precision, safety, and results you can actually see.
When you whiten with Dr. Cox and the Scarsdale Smiles team, you are not guessing at trays that may not fit or relying on generic gel concentrations designed for a one-size-fits-all approach. Everything about your treatment is tailored to your teeth, your goals, and your sensitivity levels.
Our take-home whitening trays are custom-fitted to your exact bite, which means the whitening gel stays where it needs to be and avoids unnecessary contact with your gums. This makes a meaningful difference in both your comfort during treatment and the evenness of your final results. Over-the-counter strips and generic trays often leave uneven patches or cause gum irritation precisely because they were not made for your mouth.
We also prioritize sensitivity management. Dr. Cox is upfront about the fact that some sensitivity during whitening is normal, and our team provides clear, personalized guidance on how to minimize it before, during, and after your treatment. We recommend specific products, timing adjustments, and follow-up strategies so that your experience is as comfortable as possible.
Beyond the whitening itself, every patient at Scarsdale Smiles receives a thorough evaluation before treatment begins. This ensures your teeth and gums are healthy enough to get the most out of whitening, and that whitening is truly the right choice for the discoloration you are experiencing. If a different approach would serve you better, Dr. Cox will tell you honestly and walk you through your options.
The result is a brighter, more confident smile achieved safely, comfortably, and with the personalized attention that only a trusted dental team can provide.
All professional teeth whitening products use peroxides like carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. These compounds contain highly volatile oxygen molecules.
When they come into contact with stains on your enamel, they “snap” the bonds holding the stains into place, bleaching them away and restoring the natural, bright appearance of your enamel.
In take-home whitening, you’ll come to our office for a quick appointment, where you’ll be fitted for a set of whitening trays. Then, you’ll come back in a few weeks to pick up these custom-fitted trays, and to get your teeth whitening kit from Dr. Cox.
Then, you’ll just follow the whitening instructions provided to you, usually whitening your teeth for an hour per day over 2-3 weeks. You’ll end up with professional-grade results, as well as the added benefit of being able to whiten your teeth at home and on your own schedule.
Teeth whitening usually lasts between 1-3 years, depending on how well you care for your teeth. To ensure your results last longer, you should maintain a healthy diet, reduce your intake of staining drinks like tea and coffee, and make sure to brush and floss regularly.
We also recommend seeing Dr. Cox every six months for a teeth cleaning and oral exam. This helps prevent surface stains, and ensures your smile is healthy.
Yes. Teeth whitening usually causes minor sensitivity in most people, which wears off within a few days after your treatment ends.
To help with sensitivity, we recommend switching to Sensodyne or a similar anti sensitivity toothpaste, taking ibuprofen and acetaminophen, and avoiding really hot and cold foods and drinks for a few days after your treatment.
As long as your teeth are healthy, you’re a good candidate for teeth whitening. Whitening can be used to eliminate almost any kind of external stain, ranging from coffee and tea stains to yellowing from age, and brown or yellow stains from smoking and tobacco use. Contact Scarsdale Smiles today to schedule your appointment.
As long as your teeth are healthy, you’re a good candidate for teeth whitening. Whitening can be used to eliminate almost any kind of external stain, ranging from coffee and tea stains to yellowing from age, and brown or yellow stains from smoking and tobacco use. Contact Scarsdale Smiles today to schedule your appointment.
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