The Truth About Teeth Whitening And Bleaching
Have you ever looked in the mirror and noticed a yellowing on the enamel of your once-white teeth
? Maybe your habits of drinking coffee and wine, smoking, or even eating dark berries are finally beginning to catch up with you?
Fear not, you are like most Americans, who feel they would like it if their teeth were whiter. There is a simple way to cosmetically fix this problem, with minimal effort, and usually a relatively small cost: whitening and bleaching.
The difference between the two is simple: the term "bleaching" is permitted to be used only when the teeth are being whitened beyond their natural color. The term "whitening" refers to restoring a tooth's surface color, by removing stains, dirt, and debris.
Any product that cleans, such as toothpaste, is considered a whitener, because it is moving your teeth in a healthier direction. Bleaching usually comes in the form of products which contain bleach, such as in gels, trays, paints, strips, etc.
Whether in the form of one-hour bleaching sessions at your dentist's office, or home-use bleaching kits purchased at your local drugstore, teeth whitening solutions abound. Yet only fifteen percent of the population has tried the cosmetic procedure, and misinformation on the subject is rife.
The long and the short of it, is that teeth whitening works. Virtually everyone who opts for this cosmetic treatment will see moderate to substantial improvement in the brightness and whiteness of their smile.
However, teeth whitening is not a permanent solution, and requires maintenance or "touch-ups" for a prolonged effect. After all, there are two different types of tooth stains-extrinsic stains, and intrinsic stains.
Extrinsic stains are the kind that will eventually begin to come back. They appear on the surface of your teeth as a result of exposure to dark-colored beverages, food, tobacco, and just the routine wear and tear of stains.
These superficial stains are minor, and can be removed with brushing, regular dental cleanings, and bleaching. However, these can evolve into intrinsic stains if they are not treated promptly and effectively.
Intrinsic stains are those that form on the interior of the enamel. This can result from trauma, aging, exposure to minerals like tetracycline, natural bruising from tooth formation, or excessive ingestion of fluoride.
In the past, it was thought that intrinsic stains were too resistant to be corrected by bleaching. Today, cosmetic dentistry experts believe that even deep-set intrinsic stains can be removed with supervised take-home teeth whitening that is maintained over a matter of months or even a year.
There are a few different forms of bleaching, both do it yourself and professional, which can produce very desirable results. The first is in-office whitening at your dentist's.
The cost is generally about six hundred and fifty dollar per visit, on average. The cost of this is a downside, but not having to worry about doing the bleaching yourself can be a great benefit.
This protocol involves the carefully controlled use of a relatively high-concentration peroxide gel, applied to the teeth by the dentist or trained technician after the gums have been protected with a paint-on rubber dam. Generally, the peroxide remains on the teeth for several fifteen to twenty minute intervals that add up to an hour at most.
Those with particularly stubborn staining may be advised to return for one or more additional bleaching sessions, or may be asked to continue with a home-use whitening system. This option has proven itself to be very effective.
The next option is professional dispensed take-home whitening kits. They generally range from about one hundred to four hundred dollars.
Many dentists are of the opinion that professionally dispensed take-home whitening kits can produce the best results over the long haul. Take-home kits incorporate an easy-to-use lower-concentration peroxide gel that remains on the teeth for an hour or longer, sometimes even overnight.
The lower the peroxide percentage, the longer it may safely remain on the teeth. The gel is applied to the teeth using custom-made bleaching trays that resemble mouth guards.
The last option is over the counter whitening. This is definitely the cheapest option, ranging from about twenty to one hundred dollars, but has a hit and miss success rate.
Over-the-counter bleaching involves the use of a store-bought whitening kit, featuring a bleaching gel with a concentration lower than that of the professionally dispensed take-home whiteners. The gel is applied to the teeth via one-size-fits-all trays, whitening strips, or paint-on applicators.
In many cases this may only whiten a few of the front teeth, unlike custom trays that can whiten the entire smile. No matter what option you choose, it is nice to know there are things out there that are guaranteed to work for you-get started today!
by: Ronald Pedactor
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