What Is Tooth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is a process that focuses on making an individual’s natural teeth appear whiter and brighter. Teeth whitening procedures include sanding down stains, bleaching, ultraviolet (UV) light therapy, and many more processes.
There are various teeth whitening products that are available, and you can try many approaches at home too. You can also get your teeth whitened effectively by a dentist or a dental professional.
Some teeth whitening methods may cause side effects, such as gum irritation and tooth sensitivity. Let’s take a look at how teeth whitening works, what its procedure is, and safety measures.
Types of Teeth Stains That Can Be Whitened
To effectively whiten your teeth, you’ll need to choose a whitening method that removes the type of staining you have on your teeth.
If you have both intrinsic and extrinsic staining, your dentist will recommend a whitening toothpaste or method that safely treats both.
If you don’t know which kind of stain you have, consult your dentist. They can determine the type of stains you have and which method will work best for you.
- Intrinsic stains
These stains are inside your tooth enamel, and they are sometimes present even before your teeth erupt from the gums when you were a kid.
These stains can be caused by antibiotic use, fluoride exposure, and thinner tooth enamel. Intrinsic staining can sometimes be caused by genetics.
- Extrinsic stains
These stains are present outside your tooth and happen due to environmental exposure to food and beverages, leaving discoloration on your tooth. Coffee, artificial food colorings, and smoking can cause extrinsic staining.
Tooth whitening products
- OTC whitening products include a whitening tooth paste and mouthwash. The products may also contain baking soda, which works as a mild abrasive to scrub the stains.
- Certain whitening tooth-pastes have charcoal that has abrasive properties, and some whitening formulas also may contain low concentrations of carbamide and hydrogen peroxide.
- Unlike other parts of a tooth, enamel is your teeth’s hard exterior, which is not made of living cells, so it doesn’t repair itself once it has worn away.
- Whitening products usually contain fluoride to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent future stains.
Causes That Turn Your Teeth Yellow, Black, and Discolored
Yellow, black, dark, or brown teeth stains are caused by certain factors that are
Foods and beverages
Contain chemicals, such as pre-chromogens, chromogens, or tannins, such as tea, coffee, red wine, soft drinks, and specific dark-colored fruit and vegetable juices.
These will attack the teeth and bind to the white tooth enamel, causing yellow, black, or brown staining and making teeth appear darker.
- Smoking
Is a primary cause of yellow teeth, black teeth, or dark teeth. The toxins in cigarettes will bind to the outer layer of teeth and become ingrained, causing the teeth to darken quickly.
Smoking also causes a buildup of plaque, which is the principal contributor to gum disease, tooth decay, periodontal gum disease, and many other dental ailments.
- Aging
Our tooth enamel naturally thins with aging, allowing pigment from food and beverages to become more easily embedded in the enamel. As a result, the teeth turn yellow, brown, or darker.
- Gum and tooth injury
When the gums and teeth are injured, the body reacts by producing a thicker layer of dentin to protect the original dentin from destruction.
However, it can also darken the color of the teeth. Additionally, injuries to the gums and teeth can also cause blood to seep into the teeth, changing the color of the teeth.
- Certain medications
such as asthma or blood pressure medications, as well as some antibiotics used by mothers while pregnant, such as tetracycline or doxycycline, as well as when infants or young children are given antibiotics during the teething period or excessive fluoride exposure, can cause teeth to darken when they grow up.
In addition, those undergoing treatment for certain diseases, such as cancer, may experience tooth darkening as a side effect of cancer treatment.
Types of Teeth Whitening Products
Two types of teeth whitening procedures that are widely accepted and popular are
- Philips Zoom teeth whitening
It is an in-office tooth whitening procedure that uses a high-performance tooth whitening gel containing hydrogen peroxide in combination with energy wave stimulation.
Shining an adjustable blue LED light (laser tooth whitening) spanning three intensity levels on the teeth helps to break up the dull stains and reveal noticeably whiter teeth right after the procedure without harming the tooth enamel.
- Home bleaching
At-home teeth whitening is the procedure of bleaching your teeth at home with the best tooth whitening kit that includes trays and teeth whitening gel.
The dentist will make a mouth impression at the hospital to make teeth whitening trays and give the initial teeth whitening, then dispense an at-home teeth-whitening kit for continuing teeth whitening at home.
At-home teeth whitening is the most convenient way to whiten your teeth, suitable for those who do not have time or those who want to increase the level of whiteness to a satisfactory level.
Procedure of Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is a procedure that includes bleaching or other methods to make teeth appear brighter and whiter. The process can be done in a dentist’s office or at home.
In-office teeth whitening
- The dentist uses a blow-dryer to dry the teeth.
- A whitening gel is applied on the surface of teeth.
- Blue (LED) light (laser tooth whitening) that helps to activate the gel
- The process is repeated 3–4 times.
- A fluoride coating is applied to reduce sensitivity.
At-home teeth whitening
- Your dentist will take an impression of the teeth to make a custom tray.
- The tray is filled with bleaching gel.
- The gel is applied on the surface of the teeth for a set amount of time.
Other teeth whitening methods
- Using strips, gels, or rinses
- Using whitening toothpastes
- Using baking soda
- Using ultraviolet (UV) light therapy
Maintenance
- Limit or avoid tobacco use.
- Limit foods and drinks that stain teeth.
- Reduce the risk of mouth trauma.
- Follow a good oral care routine.
- Use a whitening toothpaste.
Who Is Not A Good Candidate For Tooth Whitening?
- For those with ongoing dental issues like gum disease, tooth decay, root canal inflammation, or periodontitis, the whitening gel can penetrate the decayed area and roots of the teeth, which may cause sensitive teeth.
- If the disease is present, the dentist will first provide treatment to reduce discomfort and affect a cure, followed by a teeth-whitening procedure.
- Those who are under 16 years of age, due to the developing nerve to the tooth, can have tooth sensitivity.
- Pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers.
Where Can I Get The Best Teeth Whitening Treatment?
Effective teeth whitening results hinge on the type and quality of the whitening product to ensure the safety and best possible outcome of white sparkling teeth that help accentuate a dazzling smile.
Additionally, teeth-whitening treatment in a digital dental center is indispensable for the accurate, rapid production of a mold of the teeth.
Ideally, a tooth whitening at ‘Dacula Dental’ with cutting-edge dental technology and an international standard teeth-whitening kit helps create trust and confidence for the best service before and after the treatment.
Protect Your Teeth, And Get A Healthy And A Confident Smile
Reference-
J Evid Based Dent Pract. 2014 Feb 13, [PubMed]
ADA [Dental Bleaching]