The Dazzling Smile YOU Deserve!
Teeth whitening is an amazing way to help boost your confidence and one of the most common dental procedures performed today. Now you can get great results just as easily from home as it can be in your dentist office. Why whiten, you ask. Well why not? Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you so why not let it shine! Over time, the enamel on adult teeth becomes less porous which causes the teeth to darken. Other contributors that discolor teeth are bacteria pigments, certain medications, foodstuffs, and tobacco. Even everyday habits like drinking coffee, tea, red wine, and soda can cause tooth discoloration. But don’t worry; there are many ways to keep your teeth looking white and bright. Here are the top two ways: bleaching gel and light assisted bleaching.
Most at home whitening systems are done with bleaching gel and guard trays. Carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide are the most common oxidizing ingredients used in today’s teeth whitening products. What these oxidizing compounds do is penetrate the stain deposits and the thin dentin layer that lies underneath the enamel. This leaves the teeth thoroughly bleached. This can be done with a high or low concentrate. Lower concentration can be purchased over the counter and needs to be done over 5 – 14 day period. These products also have to stay on your teeth a little while longer because of the lower percent of hydrogen peroxide. Some people may see change right away, while it takes others a little longer. With a higher the concentration of gel, which is usually 10 % or higher, you will see professional looking results quicker. These higher percentage products can be found on the internet or can be purchased through your dentist.
Light assisted bleaching is another popular form of bleaching. It speeds up the process of dental office bleaching by using light energy. A high energy source is used to stimulate the peroxide molecules. In about an hours time you can accomplish the same results as weeks of tray bleaching.
Results of bleaching can last for several months depending on the individual’s lifestyle. Common side effects from bleaching are: chemical burns with gel bleaching; if a high-concentration oxidizing agent touches unprotected tissues, this can discolor the soft tissue, cause sensitive teeth, and over bleaching. Most of these side effects are only temporary.
If you are still unsure about the process there are a number of products to help. If your teeth are a little on the sensitive side, there are desensitizing gels that you can put on your teeth before you whiten them. If you are worried about messy gels or how much to use, some products come with prefilled trays. Most of these can be purchased in a lower concentrate percentage depending upon your own personal tooth sensitivity. A good way to keep up with your whitening routine is a whitening toothpaste and or mouth rinse.