Teeth whitening treatment is best-suited for those who have teeth that are healthy, with no fillings. Also, if you have a yellow tinge or colour to your teeth, you may benefit a lot from teeth whitening treatment. This is a common dental cosmetic procedure but it is not recommended for everyone. Teeth whitening treatment is a process of restoring the natural colour of the teeth, as well as removing stains from the teeth.
You can whiten your teeth both professionally and at home by yourself. For the latter, you can use various products, such as rinses, gels, chewing gum, toothpaste, and strips. However, if you do decide to whiten your teeth at home you should first speak to your dentist, especially if you have any or all of the following:
- Lots of crowns or fillings
- Sensitive teeth and gums
- Different dental restorations
- A single dark tooth
- Very dark stains on your teeth
Both at-home teeth whitening and office-based teeth whitening use peroxide-based bleaching agents. At-home systems contain from 3% to 20% peroxide, which is carbamide or hydrogen peroxides. In-office teeth whitening systems used by your dentist contain from 15% to 43% of peroxide. Your teeth become whiter if you keep a stronger solution on your teeth for a longer time.
However, if you have a higher percentage of peroxide in the teeth whitening solution or gel, you should apply it for a shorter period of time on your teeth. If you do not take care to keep the gel on your teeth for the right amount of time, it will dehydrate your teeth and will increase tooth sensitivity.
Teeth Whitening in Your Dentist’s Office
If your teeth whitening is done by your dentist, it will get your teeth brighter, faster. Your dentist will use a bleaching solution that is typically much stronger than the bleaching solution used in an at-home kit. Also, your dentist may use heat or light, or a combination of the two, to speed up and intensify the whitening process.
If you want dramatic results, these will usually result in teeth that are three to eight shades brighter. These results will typically require several dental office visits for 30 to 60 minutes at a stretch for each visit. Some dentists use certain techniques that only require a single 2-hour session. You should discuss the details of your teeth whitening procedure with your dentist before opting for it.
Teeth Whitening At Home
There are several options that you can use to whiten your teeth at home. Some of them are:
- Teeth whitening strips and gels: These are applied to the teeth that need to be whitened with a brush or a thin strip. These are peroxide-based products and need to be applied once or twice a day. This procedure needs to be repeated for as long as 10 to 14 days. Results can last for four or more months.
- Tray-based teeth bleaching systems: During this procedure, a mouth guard-like tray is filled with a peroxide-based bleaching gel or paste. This tray is then placed over the teeth for one to several hours a day. This procedure is carried out for up to four weeks.
- Teeth whitening toothpaste: Toothpaste is mildly abrasive and so, every toothpaste helps remove stains from the teeth. Whitening toothpaste, however, also contains polishing agents or chemicals. This helps scrub stains from the teeth without the help of a bleaching agent. Teeth-whitening toothpaste is not very expensive and can brighten teeth by about one shade. Some whitening toothpaste does contain peroxide, but these are not left for long enough on the teeth to have an effect.
Maintaining teeth whitening
Whatever be the procedure you use to whiten your teeth, there are a few things you can do to maintain the results. The most common things you can do is brushing, rinsing, and flossing daily. Besides this, you can avoid acidic beverages and those rich in tannin, such as:
- White wine
- Red wine
- Black coffees and teas
- Sports drinks
- Carbonated drinks, such as light and dark-coloured sodas
- Berries
- Strongly-coloured foods
- Sauces, such as soy, tomato, and curries
Risks of teeth whitening
Teeth whitening, as with all dental procedures, comes with certain risks. They are:
- Increased sensitivity: Teeth whitening and bleaching can cause a temporary increase in the sensitivity of your teeth to pressure, temperature, and touch. This is more likely to occur after in-office teeth whitening, as a higher concentration of bleach is used. Some patients experience spontaneous, shooting pains down the middle of their front teeth. If you have receding gums, cracks in your teeth, or leakages resulting from faulty restorations, you are more likely to experience teeth sensitivity. Whitening sensitivity usually lasts for a day or two, but in certain cases, can even last for up to a month. If you have sensitive teeth after your teeth whitening procedure, you should consult your dentist immediately.
- Irritation of the gums: More than half of patients who go through teeth whitening treatment, experience gum irritation, due to the bleach concentration or from contact with the trays. This irritation can last for up to several days and stops after the bleaching have stopped or after the concentration of the peroxide has been lowered.
- Teeth that are technicolour: Bonding, dental crowns, or veneers, also called restorations are not affected by the teeth whitening treatment and continue to maintain their default colour, even as the surrounding teeth are whitened. This results in something called technicolour teeth.
If you want to whiten your teeth, you should certainly consult your dentist. It is important that you choose the right dentist for your teeth whitening treatment. You can find the right dentist at Vistadent, the Orthodontic Speciality Clinic, located in Hyderabad, India.
We will use the teeth whitening technique and peroxide treatment that is right for you. We will also make sure that you are the right candidate for teeth whitening treatment & recommend any other treatment that you may need to have healthy teeth.
So, if you want that perfect & white smile, do not hesitate any longer, but consult with Vistadent for the teeth whitening treatment that is right for you and boost your self-confidence the right way!
For more information about teeth whitening treatment or any other dental procedures, as well as other dental problems, contact Vistadent Orthodontic Speciality Clinic, at 040-23388111 or +91 9866572482 or at info@vistadent.net or visit our website at http://vistadent.net/.