Teeth Whitening

Teeth Whitening

Whitening toothpaste, over-the-counter gels, rinses, strips, trays, and things you acquire from a dentist are just a few of the numerous teeth whitening methods and items available.

People who have healthy, unrestored teeth (no fillings) and gums are the best candidates for teeth whitening. People who have yellow-coloured teeth respond well. But not everyone should have this cosmetic treatment.

So You Want Whiter Teeth?

Nobody can ignore a brilliant, white smile. One of the most popular dental operations performed each year is tooth whitening, to maintain their teeth brightness.

Our teeth can become stained over time by aging, smoking, drinking coffee, red wine, and some drugs like tetracycline.

There are various alternatives available if you want to improve your smile. Some advice on how to pick the ideal teeth whitening product for you are mentioned below.

Let the Dentist do the Whitening

The American Dental Association (ADA) advises seeking a dentist’s advice before bleaching your teeth. To prevent difficulties, a dentist can recommend the finest teeth-whitening alternatives for you and oversee a treatment plan.

In a dentist’s office, professional bleaching can be completed in about an hour. After applying a tooth-whitening gel with a 25–40% hydrogen peroxide concentration to your teeth, a specific heating lamp is used to target your teeth for 3- 20-minute periods, with the gel being reapplied in between. Additionally, some dentists might employ a laser, which is said to hasten or stimulate the teeth-whitening process.

During the whitening process, a safety barrier is employed to keep your lips, gums, and tongue away from the whitening gel so it stays on your teeth. The dentist will typically provide you with custom-fitted bleaching trays so you can continue the process at home for the best results.

Whitening At Home

Since they are inexpensive and simple to use, over-the-counter teeth whitening products have gained popularity. They have less peroxide than dentists’ teeth whitening treatments, yet some people can still have good results even though it takes longer. Whitening trays, strips, rinses, and toothpaste are among the OTC whitening kits and treatments.

The safest method for protecting your tooth enamel is whitening done under a dentist’s supervision. Additionally, dentists’ tools are better at removing stubborn stains.

Whitening Trays

One way to whiten your teeth at home is with tooth whitening trays. Because dentist-dispensed take-home whitening kits have a larger amount of bleach for better outcomes, dentists advise patients to use them.

The dentist will make fitting application trays out of flexible plastic using specific moulds of your teeth. Fitted trays decrease the quantity of bleach that could seep out and potentially irritate the gums, stop saliva from diluting the bleach, and ensure that bleach stays in close contact with the teeth for best results. Because over-the-counter trays do not exactly fit the teeth, bleach leaks and irritated gums result in the same.

Either pre-loaded into the trays or kept in syringes and added to them before use, tooth bleaching products are used. Additionally, a dentist can change the bleach’s strength and provide you with a desensitizing agent to use either before or after the treatment. The gel in kits is frequently sufficient for one two-week treatment per year, plus a few touch-ups in between.

Whitening Strips

Teeth-whitening strips are among the most well-liked methods of teeth whitening. These are made of a thin, flexible plastic that has a light coating of a bleaching agent on it. The pre-packaged strips are applied to the teeth and simply adapt to their contour. They can be worn while engaging in other activities, and they are removed after the application period, which is typically 30 minutes. Most are used for two weeks, twice every day.

Although whitening strips are more effective than whitening toothpaste, they can irritate sensitive teeth and gums. If you use whitening strips and encounter these negative effects, let your dentist know. Because saliva can leak under the strips and contaminate the bleach, strips are typically less effective than specially designed trays. Strips frequently move out of position and may not be long enough for a wide smile.

Due to the low peroxide concentration in most whitening strips, they are regarded as safe. Avoid using strips that contain chlorine dioxide, though, as they might damage tooth enamel.

Whitening Rinses

Whitening rinses are one of the newest products that make this claim about teeth whitening. These solutions also contain bleaching ingredients like peroxide that whiten teeth in addition to refreshing breath, lowering dental plaque, and preventing gum disease. The manufacturers state that you may need to wait 12 weeks to notice effects. Simply swish them around in your mouth twice daily before brushing.

According to some experts, using mouthwash for only a brief period is insufficient to produce noticeable benefits.

Whitening Toothpaste

Silica, aluminum, calcium carbonate, and baking soda are examples of mild abrasives included in toothpaste that help remove surface stains. While whitening toothpaste typically contains additional polishing or chemical agents that can assist remove further surface stains, they do not typically contain bleach, unlike professional whitening treatments. Deep-seated stains cannot be removed with their help. Additionally, some dentists may not advise using whitening toothpaste since it may be excessively abrasive. The majority of whitening toothpaste can only slightly lighten your teeth, roughly one shade.

If you decide to use whitening toothpaste, ensure sure it has undergone safety and efficacy testing by looking for the ADA Seal.

Science Says: The Most Effective Method

The greatest and safest results come from in-office tooth whitening procedures done by a dentist. Stronger compounds are used, but the mouth and gums are safeguarded, and the dentist can alter the bleaching agent’s concentration. A dentist can also handle any tooth sensitivity or other problems that could develop during therapy. In just one hour, teeth can become up to ten shades whiter.

The second-best teeth-whitening method would be an at-home bleaching product used under a dentist’s supervision and utilizing specially made mouth trays. The bleaching chemical is typically used for two weeks, for roughly eight hours each night, and includes about 10% carbamide peroxide.