What Does Tooth Whitening Involve?

World Wide Web | What Does Tooth Whitening Involve? | Naturally, most teeth can be a range of colours, usually somewhere between a light grey and yellowish hue. Over time, it is normal for teeth to become darker as we expose them to foods and beverages that leave surface stains on the teeth. In addition, smokers frequently develop yellow stains on their teeth that cannot be cleaned through regular brushing and flossing. Moreover, even the perception of the colour of your teeth can depend on your skin tone and whether or not you wear makeup; individuals with darker skin tones appear to have brighter teeth and vice versa.

Interestingly, despite the beliefs of the majority of people, teeth are not meant to be bright white. Greyish-yellow shades are normal, yet many Canadians still desire a brighter smile. In response, the cosmetic dentistry industry has lead to the development a wide range of whitening products such as surface whiteners that include toothpastes and whitening strips and bleaches for whitening your teeth.

Surface Whiteners

First, let's talk a little bit about surface whiteners. These whitening procedures generally utilize specialized abrasives that are ideal for removing surface stains from your teeth. While you can certainly buy abrasive, tooth-whitening toothpastes and chewing gums, these products generally have limited success. Indeed, most over-the-counter tooth whiteners are only slightly more abrasive than standard toothpastes but they may be effective in lifting surface stains. Nevertheless, it is important to remember that whiter teeth are not necessarily cleaner teeth, and these products are not a replacement for regular professional cleanings by your dentist.

Bleaches

Peroxide-based bleaching products are common as tooth whitening products, and they are usually more effective than surface whiteners for altering the colour of your teeth. Still, many patients find that bleaches are not at all effective because some stains do not respond well to bleaching treatments. If you are considering a bleaching product, you should speak to your dentist so that you better understand why your teeth are discoloured.

Two of the main types of bleaching methods include vital bleaching and non-vital bleaching. Vital bleaching products are used on living teeth and are especially effective for removing stains caused by food or tobacco, or stains that develop as you get older. Alternatively, non-vital bleaching can be used on "non-living" teeth such as those that have had a root canal procedure. Non-vital bleaching has been shown to lighten tooth colour from the inside out.

Generally, your dentist will recommend one of three methods for bleaching your teeth. Depending on the number of teeth that need to be bleached and the severity of the stain or discolouration, you will respond better to one of these three methods. The first method involves bleaching your teeth and then using heat or heat and light to trigger bleaching action. The second method involves wearing a custom-fitted mouth guard that is filled with bleach; the mouth guard is worn daily for a pre-determined duration. Finally, your dentist may recommend that you simply brush your teeth with a bleach/toothpaste mixture.

Most importantly, bleaching is only recommended while you are under a dentist's care. These methods can be safe and effective, but your dentist needs to monitor the progress of the whitening and the condition of your teeth and gums.