Teeth Whitening 101


Teeth Whitening 101

By Arbor View Dental Group

You might be thinking of ways to make your teeth whiter whenever you see that your teeth are yellowish. This article will define what teeth whitening is, enumerate types of teeth whitening procedures and how they are done.

The dentist aims to whiten your yellow teeth. Since teeth tend to stain or get discolorations due to exposure to a number of elements or accumulation of cavity, bacteria and tartar, it is harder to achieve its original light and white color by mere brushing.

In-office whitening, take home kits and over-the-counter products are the three major types of teeth whitening procedures.

In-office whitening gives the optimum whitening result in a short period of time and is done during a dental visit. Take home whitening kits are an easy to use, convenient, safe and personalized type of teeth whitening procedure that can be used while you’re busy doing something else. Over-the-counter products are relatively easy to use; these are considered the cheapest form of teeth whitening procedure.

In-office Whitening

First, the dentist uses pumice to polish your teeth thus removing any tartar accumulation on the teeth’s surface. He then puts gauze around your teeth to keep it dry, He might use retractors to keep your cheeks, lips and tongue away from the whitening solution. To make sure that the whitening solution will not touch the gum area, a device called a retractor is placed around the gum areas. The front surface of the tooth is then coated with a whitening solution, hydrogen or carbamide peroxide, which is left on the teeth for 30 to 60 minutes, which is reapplied until the optimum shade is achieved. Your teeth are then rinsed with water and applied with fluoride to help lessen teeth sensitivity. The dentist will then tell you not to eat certain types of food and beverages to allow the enamel pores to close, this prevents your teeth from straining.

Take Home Kits

The whitening gel which is placed over your teeth is placed in a custom fitted tray which is worn at a prescribed time. As time passes, the whitening gel which is made of carbamide peroxide dissolves, allowing oxygen to enter the enamel and dentin portion of your teeth. This process makes your teeth stains lighten and the results are seen within the first week.

Over-the-counter Products

There are many types of over-the-counter whitening products, teeth whitening strips are effective, convenient and affordable; these are placed on the teeth for up to 30 minutes to allow the agent to work on the stains and discolorations. Another kind of over-the-counter products is the tray system It is a take home kit without the custom fitting. Whitening toothpaste is another form of over-the-counter whitening product, this is very common and inexpensive because it’s acts just like a regular toothpaste.

In-office whitening, take home kits and over-the-counter products are three whitening procedures that are mostly done.

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