Tooth Whitening Systems and Kits
By April | September 24, 2007
Tooth whitening is becoming more and more popular as so many celebs are having it done. It is of course a completely cosmetic treatment which improves the appearance of the teeth by lightening the stains. So why have your teeth gone stained and yellow? It’s most likely to be due to smoking, drinking coffee, tea and cola. The pores on the enamel take hold of these stains which is why regular brushing can’t remove them.
What Causes Discoloured Teeth - Discolouration can also occur with age. Stains can even develop from the inside out due to excess fluoride and certain medications. Tooth whitening will deal with the stains on the outside of the teeth and needs to be done on a regular basis.
Whiten Your Teeth at Home or at the Dentist - You can whiten your teeth either at home or at a dentist. Home kits can be bought from your local chemist or you can use custom-made trays and solutions that are prepared by your dentist. Each requires a series of whitening procedures of varying lengths. If you’re interested in having your teeth whitened, it’s a good idea to discuss with your dentist the benefits and disadvantages of each method.
Before going ahead with having your teeth whitened, they need to be cleaned by a dentist and cavities should be filled. If you have receding gums you should have this looked at as the roots may be exposed. Because there’s no enamel on roots, whitening won’t take hold. Whitening also won’t work on teeth that have crowns or veneers.
How it Works - A solution made with hydrogen peroxide is put into trays which are similar to mouth or night guards. The trays are placed over your teeth and are left to do their job for one or two hours. If you are doing this yourself then you would leave it in overnight.
Sessions can be shorter when done at the dentist’s office, but the patient needs to return for several visits. When done in the office, the dentist is right there to monitor the process. When opting for the DIY method you need to be careful about inserting and wearing the mouth guards because any leaked solution could irritate the gums.
The idea is that the longer the solution is in contact with your teeth, the whiter they become. Unfortunately, not all stains and discolouration can be removed. There are some whitening products that are only activated when they come into contact with a light or heat. Those are best used under the supervision of your dentist.
Teeth whitening is not a permanent solution, it will only last one to 6 months. However the more you do to prevent staining the longer lasting the results. You may experience gum sensitivity although this should just be temporary. Overall the process is very safe however those who are pregnant should avoid teeth whitening. There haven’t been any studies as to whether the unborn baby will be affected.
Topics: Health |
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