1.How Teeth Become Discolored
There are many reasons why your teeth might be discolored. Generally, eating certain foods and drinks can change the color of your teeth. Drinking red wine, coffee or tea stains the teeth. These drinks contain pigments that stain your tooth enamel. The tar and nicotine found in tobacco products produce brown and yellow stains, respectively. Time also plays a factor. As we age, the outer enamel of our teeth begins to thin and the underlying yellow teeth become more visible.Certain medications can cause your teeth to dissolve, including some antihistamines, antibiotics, high blood pressure medications, or chemotherapy.
2.How Teeth Whitening Works
Teeth whitening is a bleaching process with hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. An oxidation reaction occurs which breaks down the staining agents.
3.Teeth Whitening Options
Professional teeth whitening at your dental specialist's clinic is the quickest and most secure method for whitening your teeth. Under the supervision of your dental specialist, higher concentration of whitening agents is used. Your gums are safeguarded from exposure to these agents as they could be harmed. Furthermore, a unique light or laser might be utilized to improve the treatment. This commonly takes an hour and a half and can deliver brightening of your teeth up to 10 shades.
At Dazzle Dent Dental Clinic, we use a special, gentle product that gives your teeth 4-5 times lighter shades in one short visit. Our professional teeth whitening and bleaching services remove years of stains in a single session. There are also at-home options to consider. This involves a less concentrated amount of bleaching agents typically applied to trays or strips that are attached to your teeth. However, these items work significantly less successful than the products used at our dental clinic.
Teeth Whitening Strips
Whitening strips are a less expensive teeth whitening option that you can use at home. It comprises of a slight segment of material covered with a hydrogen peroxide-based gel. Best results are achieved by wearing the strips for 30 minutes at a time, twice a week, for 14 days.
If your teeth are imperfect, you may experience white streaks. Since they are designed for people with fairly straight smiles, any overlapping or crooked teeth can leave unsightly stains. Or, you may have problems sealing the strips properly.
Teeth Whitening Trays
Whitening trays are a more expensive treatment to whiten your teeth, but they can be more effective than whitening strips or toothpaste. You fill the tray with brightening gel and wear the tray somewhere in the range of 30 minutes per day or a considerable length of time.
Over-the-counter whitening tray kits often contain trays that don't fit your teeth properly and are uncomfortable to wear. If your dentist offers this option, they can create customized whitening trays to fit your teeth allowing you to use less gel and have a more comfortable fit.
Teeth Whitening Toothpastes and Rinses
Whitening toothpastes are readily available. They contain gentle abrasives that can remove surface stains. These products differ from bleach. They do not change the color of your teeth. They just assist with removing stains from the outer layer of your teeth.
The most inexpensive method of brightening teeth such as brightening toothpaste and washes are not difficult to use, since you basically just change this toothpaste for your ordinary toothpaste. Toothpaste and washes, in any case, take more time to make a difference and just brighten your teeth by a couple of shades. The outcomes likewise don't keep going as long as a few different teeth-brightening shades.
4. Teeth Whitening Doesn’t Work on All Teeth
Generally, yellow teeth will bleach well, browns much less, and gray or purple tones will not respond at all. There may also be a lack of response to whitening if your discoloration is caused by medication or tooth trauma.
Also, if you have crowns, fillings, caps or veneers, they will not react to whitening.
5. Possible Side-effects of Teeth Whitening
The most common side effect of using whitening products is tooth sensitivity. This happens when the whitening agent erodes the enamel and irritates the nerve of the tooth. This effect is short-lived and you can try the application again when the effect wears off.Make sure to follow instructions given by your dental specialist in regards to the utilization of at-home products, as misuse can harm your gums or tooth enamel.
Talk to Your Dentist About Whitening Your Teeth
We always recommend talking to your dentist before starting the teeth whitening process. Your dentist can advise you if the procedure would be beneficial for the specific condition (and color) of your teeth.
If you have any questions or need more information, kindly reach us.