Teeth Whitening Techniques
I'm sure you've noticed the older celebrities that have the whitest teeth,
taking years off their true age. Anyone that is concerned about their smile
wants whiter, brighter teeth. It's a sad fact that our teeth will naturally
darken as we get older. If you are a cigarette smoker or a coffee or tea
drinker, your teeth are more likely to stain more heavily. Extrinsic stains,
stains on outer surfaces of the teeth, can usually be removed during a thorough
professional dental cleaning. However, intrinsic stains, stains within the tooth
itself, must be removed through bleaching your teeth. This can be accomplished
with the same results either at home when overseen by your dentist or in the
dental office with a carbamide-peroxide or hydrogen-peroxide solution. Most
people that get their teeth professionally whitened can go two to three years
before it is necessary to undergo the teeth bleaching process again. Other
patients just require a bleach touch-up sooner. I caution you to avoid any
whitening procedure without supervision by your dentist for several reasons that
include:
You might not be a good candidate for bleaching your teeth and
must be evaluated first by a dentist. One good reason to check with your dentist
is to ensure that you will not be sensitive to the bleaching procedure. It may
be necessary to replace some older fillings with new fillings prior to the
procedure to avoid sensitivity. Also, because porcelain and tooth-colored
fillings tend not to bleach, you may want to replace them after bleaching in
order to have your teeth color match.
Bleaching your teeth can sometimes
lead to sensitive teeth, which your dentist can correct by changing the
concentration of the bleaching solutions or administering fluoride.
It is
important to have a custom-fitted mouth guard so that the bleaching gel remains
on your teeth rather than on your gums.
If your considering
over-the-counter bleaching solutions, know that they are not pH-balanced. Some
at home dental whitening kits may cause extreme irritation and burning of the
gums.
How your teeth are actually professionally bleached is through a
simple process. First, models are taken of your mouth by a dentist and a
custom-fitted mouth guard is made for you. A bleaching solution will be
provided. When your ready to bleach your teeth, you'll line the mouth guards
with the bleaching solution and place over the teeth. You must wear the dental
mouth guard with the bleaching solution for a period of two weeks, for four
hours each day, or you may wear it overnight. Results of professionl teeth
whitening vary depending upon the original color and shade of your teeth, as
some teeth are naturally yellow, reddish-brown, or gray. Most people that have
underdone this treatment for whitening their teeth are happy with the results
and walk away smiling.
Another option for professionally bleaching your
teeth is in-office teeth whitening. Through this dental procedure a special
external light source, or laser, is used to activate the bleaching gel solution.
The process is safe, easy, and fast. Results are accomplished in just one
appointment. Sometimes it may be necessary to use a combination of in-office and
at home bleaching in order to achieve the person's desired whitening
results.
If your wondering if whitening toothpastes do actually work,
they do remove stains from your teeth. Whitening toothpaste, however, won't give
you near the level of whiteness that you'll get from having your teeth
professionally whitened. Dental whitening toothpastes are often recommended
maintenance after the bleaching process has been completed.