Teeth whitening is an effective way to lighten the natural shade of teeth without removing any layers off of the surface of the teeth. There will not be a complete change of color but the teeth will be a shade lighter.
Reasons
People who often have their teeth whitened are those who notice discoloration on their teeth due to age, food and drinks consumption, and also smoking. Discoloration is usually caused by calculus or tartar and also certain antibiotics.
Processes
Teeth whitening usually makes use of the professional bleaching process which involves a rubber shield around the gums for protection. The whitening product is then added to the teeth using a tray similar to a mouthguard. The active ingredient used is often carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide which is broken down allowing oxygen to get onto the enamel to lighten the teeth color.
Treatment Period
Teeth whitening mostly takes 3 to 4 weeks that comprise of 2 to 3 visits to the dentist. The dentist would first require a mouthguard to be made during the first appointment before the treatment can commence. The user would then be expected to continue the treatment by applying the whitening product regularly at home over the span of 2 to 4 weeks for 30 minutes to 1 hour each time.
Power Whitening
A prior assessment would be necessary to determine if a person can go for this treatment which typically takes just an hour.
Costs
Every procedure differs in price range with power whitening or laser being much more expensive than bleaching.
Lasting Effects
Teeth whitening can last for up to a period of 3 years. Nevertheless, different lifestyles would promote varying results. The whitening effects would last much shorter if a person smokes or drink or eat stain-causing foods and beverages.
Side Effects
Past reviews include feedbacks of side effects including increased teeth sensitivity to cold temperatures, gum discomfort, white patches on gums, or a sore throat. They nonetheless disappear within several days after the completion of the treatment.
Home Kits
There is a huge range of home whitening kits in stores today such as whitening strips and paint-on whiteners. They each have a different effective rate depending on the whitening agent amount inside. They are much cheaper but their safety levels are not always assessed so the risks of damaging your teeth are typically increased.
Aftercare
For treatment aftercare, dentists recommend cutting down on the consumption of foods and drinks that are stain-causing as well as smoking. These would help on the prevention of discoloring and staining the whitened teeth so the effects can last much longer. Users are also advised to brush their teeth at least twice a day using a fluoride toothpaste and to reduce the intake of sweetened foods and drinks.
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