Whitening your teeth
Tooth whitening
Everybody loves a bright white smile. Many people are satisfied with the sparkle they get from brushing with fluoride-containing toothpaste, cleaning between their teeth once a day, and regular visits to the dentist. If you are not satisfied with your smile, there are products and procedures available to help you improve its appearance. If you decide to brighten your smile, investigate all of your options, including:
- In-office whitening
- At-home whitening
- Over the counter products
Discuss options with your dentist, since they may be able to tell you whether whitening procedures could be effective for you. Tooth whitening may not correct all types of discoloration. The effectiveness of these products generally varies with the color of the staining of teeth. Also, whitening may not enhance your smile if you have bonding or tooth-colored fillings in your front teeth. In these cases, you may want to investigate other options, like porcelain veneers or dental bonding.
Teeth whitening can be performed either in-office by your dentist or at home by you. While in-office whitening produces an immediate and often dramatic effect, many people appreciate at-home whitening for its flexibility and lower cost.
What is in-office whitening?
If you are a candidate for whitening, your dentist may suggest a procedure that can be done in the office. This procedure may require more than one office visit, and each visit usually requires 30 minutes to an hour. During this procedure, the dentist applies a protective gel or rubber shield to your gums to protect them from the whitening agent. A special lamp is used to activate the whitening gel and speed up the whitening process. Once the gel is activated, it remains on the teeth for 15-20 minutes until the next application.
The advantage of having your teeth whitened in the dental office is that this approach is fast and produces immediate improvement. Typically, your teeth can be whitened by several shades within 45 minutes, dramatically improving your appearance in the shortest possible time. In-office whitening is unique in this respect, as your dentist has more control over achieving your specific teeth whitening goals.
Disadvantages of in-office teeth whitening include cost and greater incidence of temporary tooth sensitivity.
What is at-home whitening?
Although many people opt for the “fast” whitening associated with in-office treatment, some people prefer at-home methods. These range from prescription products provided by your dentist to over-the-counter products such as whitening strips. There are several types of products available for use at home, which can either be dispensed by your dentist or purchased over-the-counter. Over the counter whitening agents are available for purchase at drug stores and pharmacies. However, since many of these products can cause harm to the gums and teeth, it’s better to use products recommended by your dentist.
Whitening kits If you obtain the whitening kit from your dentist, custom-fitted trays are made to fit your teeth precisely. You should fill the mouth trays with the whitening gel and place them over your teeth for varying times. Application times vary greatly for the various at-home products. Wear times of 30-60 minutes, once or twice a day, are common; results are achieved in a little as three days, but more commonly 5-10 or more days.
You may experience some side effects while using whitening solutions. For example, teeth can become sensitive which is temporary and should lessen once the treatment is finished. Other people experience soft tissue irritation from a poorly fitting tray or from the whitening gel that contacts the soft tissue of the mouth.
Advantages of at-home products include cost and the ability to re-treat as needed. Although it takes longer, many people find that eventually the results of at-home whitening are on par with in-office procedures.
Over-the-Counter Whitening Products
Whitening over-the-counter kits While the dentist-prescribed at-home whitening systems are more effective than other at-home options, you may choose a less expensive over-the-counter teeth whitening kit. These kits may contain whitening gel and application trays, or whitening strips that you place on the surface of your teeth.
Whitening Toothpastes Whitening has become popular to the point that many toothpastes are now infused with whitening agents. Whitening toothpastes have special chemical or polishing agents that provide additional stain removal effectiveness. Toothpaste whitening is an inexpensive option, but it’s relatively ineffective. Unlike whitening gels, they can only remove stains on the surface of the teeth and don’t actually change the intrinsic color of your teeth.
It is important to understand that with both professional products and over- the-counter products, compliance is important.
Improvement in teeth shade
is usually seen in about two weeks. However, the length of time that the teeth remain lighter is dependent on several factors. Drinking tea, coffee, dark sodas, and even regular diets can cause the teeth to darken. Teeth whitening is not a permanent procedure and "touch-up" whitening with the product is usually necessary.
