Who doesn’t love a dazzling white smile? Over time our routine habits like drinking tea or coffee, aerated soft drinks, smoking, certain medications like tetracycline or simply aging can stain our teeth. Yellow teeth are something which is not liked by any person and it also reduces your confidence to talk in public or give a good smile to click pictures.
So You Want Whiter Teeth?
The solution is the Teeth whitening treatment i.e. a process to make your teeth look whiter in appearance. Teeth whitening is one of the most requested procedures by everyone to have a bold and confident smile. It is a quick, non-invasive, and affordable way to enhance your smile.
Why Is Teeth Whitening Needed?
The outer layer of the tooth is called enamel. The color or shade of teeth is created by scattering of light from enamel and the underlying 2nd layer called dentin. Thinner enamel if present will show more dentine color which is yellowish compared to enamel. Also, tooth enamel has pores in it that can easily hold stains, so a rougher tooth surface will stain easily compared to a smooth one.
There can also occur intrinsic stains on a tooth i.e. from within the tooth. The main reason for this is excessive use of fluoride or fewer medications. Teeth whitening is done mainly to remove extrinsic stains.
Bleaching vs Whitening. What is the difference?
The bleaching word is to be used only when teeth are whitened beyond their natural color. This means a bleaching agent is needed to make the teeth look lighter i.e. typically use of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide is done. The term whitening on other hand is used to make a tooth free from any form of debris or dirt. So technically our toothpaste which we use on daily basis is a teeth whitening agent. The term teeth whitening sounds better than bleaching and hence it’s more commonly used on a general basis.
Teeth whitening procedure can be done in two ways i.e. in-office technique where the dentist applies bleaching agents to make your teeth whiter or Home bleaching where you get ready kits available to use at home for lightening teeth shade. The in-office whitening technique is stronger and a quicker way compared to home bleaching kits, and hence preferred more.
Hydrogen peroxide is the main bleaching agent used and its percentage used by a dentist is around 35 to 40% whereas the home bleaching kit has only 7% of hydrogen peroxide
Preparing To Whiten Your Teeth?
Visiting a dentist is the best solution if you wish to make your teeth look whiter. Before starting the teeth whitening procedure your other dental treatments need to be finished as other dental problems can affect the success of teeth whitening treatment. For example, if you have cavities, it needs to be filled first as the bleaching agent can pass through the decayed areas and reach the inner layers of the tooth. Also if your gums have receded down and a teeth whitening agent is applied over them, you might get sensitivity. Also, whitening does not work on crowns, bridges, or veneers. So be careful!!
How is Teeth Whitening Done?
The dentist will first clean your teeth and remove all debris. This will help in keeping teeth clean from bacteria, food, or other substance which might contribute to staining. Once this is done whitening procedure is started where firstly all soft/gum tissue is first protected with a lubricant. Then the whitening agent is applied over the teeth and a light is moved across the agent which helps in removing stains. Overall the procedure takes an hour to complete. You might require 1 to 3 such appointments depending on what method is used, how severe the stains are and how white you want your teeth to be. To enhance the effect supplementary kits might be given which can be applied at home.
For home, whitening dentists can make customized trays for you to place the bleaching agent in the tray and insert in the mouth, or nowadays many over-the-counter bleaching kits are available which can be used directly. If customized trays are used, their fit and adaptation to teeth are better giving a beneficial whitening effect. Home bleaching may take a week or more to get the desired result as the agent is weaker and requires prolonged time to see the results
Any Risk Associated With Teeth Whitening?
Whitening as such does not cause any ill effects although a few patients might experience slight sensitivity or gum irritation. Women should not do teeth whitening if pregnant as still, its effects on the fetus are unknown.
Conclusion
Whitening is not a permanent solution. The stains will come back. If you consume a lot of caffeine products, smoke, or use tobacco stains can easily come back. If all post-op protocols are followed, you will not need another round of teeth whitening for at least 6-12 months.
Call us or Whatsapp us at +91-9141160212 to book an appointment today! or just drop into our Dental Clinic at RR Nagar in Bangalore
