Taking care of your dental needs is essential to maintaining your overall well-being. Good oral hygiene provides fresh breath and helps prevent gum infections, which can lead to more severe health problems. Dental services like teeth whitening can also help you boost social esteem with a healthier smile.
Individuals should maintain personal oral hygiene to keep their teeth and mouth healthy and avoid dental decay. Brushing after every meal and flossing daily at least once helps prevent disease-causing bacteria from multiplying in your mouth. Furthermore, a balanced diet that avoids high sugar and starchy foods aids in the prevention of harmful bacteria.
However, you cannot achieve complete dental care alone- it also involves regular visits to dental clinics. And, when you encounter dental issues beyond your hygienic practices, there are different dental services to help you. Moreover, most dentists can provide various dental procedures and treatments to correct or avoid these issues.
Different Dental Services Help Take Care of Your Teeth
Dental clinic visits will spare you money and aching and give you a happier smile. Dentists perform various procedures that can help individuals be conscious of their appearance. Cosmetic dentistry– as these practices are known- is concerned with the aesthetics of the teeth and gums.
Cosmetic dentistry involves treating yellowed, damaged, deformed, and stained teeth and dental cracks. Its main goal is to improve dental aesthetics in color, structure, alignment, and the overall look of your smile. However, many popular cosmetic operations are optional rather than mandatory, although some treatments have reparative results.
Thanks to modern advancements in dental technology, cosmetic procedures can vary from tooth replacement to dental implants. Most typical cosmetic dentistry operations are relatively straightforward, while some can involve more complicated and specific treatments. Of all these procedures, teeth whitening is now the most popular and practical way to enhance your smile.
What Is Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is among the most general dental services in the United States and worldwide. It can successfully whiten teeth’ natural tone without losing most of the tooth’s layers. It usually won’t alter the shade too much, but it will brighten the previous color effectively in most cases.
Your teeth may turn yellowish over time due to various factors you may or may not be able to control. For instance, brushing your teeth gets them clean, but with time, stains will develop, making the whiteness disappear. Coffee, red wine, cigarette smoking, and simply aging, as well as some drugs and tartars, can also stain the teeth.
There are many choices regarding teeth whitening, some of which are more successful and reliable than others. These approaches differ significantly, but the best path depends on your goal and general dental health. Any direction you take would be advantageous since the risks are minor and only last a short time.
Different Causes of Teeth Discoloration
When the shade of the teeth changes and they don’t appear as white as they should- then that’s tooth discoloration. The teeth can darken, change color from bright white to darker tones, or acquire white or black patches. Moreover, teeth stains can appear on the tooth’s exterior or beneath the enamel, and some individuals get both types.
Teeth discoloration is highly prevalent, and various factors can cause it, although it makes people uncomfortable. Therefore, everyone who wants to keep or achieve a brilliant white smile should know these probable causes. Here are some of those reasons:
Various Food and Drinks
Because of their high acidity, drinks such as coffee, tea, soda, and wine can discolor teeth. In addition, certain starch-based dishes, such as spaghetti and several vegetables and fruits, including cherries and potatoes, can cause stains. Therefore, as a basic guideline, any food that may stain clothes will likely blemish the teeth.
Smoking and Tobacco Use
Chewing tobacco and smoking increases the chance of gum illnesses and other oral diseases and almost always accelerates teeth discoloration. Additionally, smokers have a more significant occurrence of tooth staining than non-smokers, according to various research reports.
Aging
The gradual wearing away of teeth’ enamel is a natural result of age. With time, the enamel’s surface coating deteriorates, uncovering the dentin beneath, and the tooth’s transparency decreases, making it appear darker. Since dentin is yellowish in tone, most people’s teeth begin looking yellower as they age.
Trauma or Injury
Falling, breaking, or otherwise injuring a tooth can damage its surface, resulting in discoloration. This problem most commonly affects kids but can impact adults of all ages. When an accident or other trauma forces teeth’ blood circulation to decline or the nerves to die, the injury could darken adult teeth.
Inadequate Dental Practices and Hygiene
Poor oral care, such as failing to brush and clean teeth, produces plaque and accumulates food residue. It also permits bacteria to remain in the mouth and adhere to the teeth, causing tooth discoloration. In addition, putting off visits to a dentist and regular teeth cleanings might lead to stains.
Professional Teeth Whitening Methods
The bleaching ingredients utilized in professional teeth whitening treatments can include hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. These chemicals remove stains and lighten the discolored enamel of the teeth, giving them a whiter and brighter appearance. Qualified dental professionals administer this procedure, delivering less risk and more definitive whitening results.
Even though teeth whitening is a well-established process, certain people are nonetheless unsuitable for the treatment. For example, people with hypersensitive teeth, gums, and severe and stubborn stains are usually ineligible for the procedure. Therefore, one underrated benefit of professional teeth whitening is examining your teeth to ensure they are suitable.
Dentists typically employ two popular techniques to whiten teeth effectively- in-office and professional at-home kits. Many choose in-office procedures, while some favor the more affordable at-home bleaching kits from dentists.
In-Office Teeth Whitening Procedures
In-office teeth whitening involves noninvasive procedures done in a dental clinic using professional bleaching solutions to whiten the teeth. The process typically takes around an hour, although some dentists utilize a laser to speed up the process. Additionally, adequately trained dentists may use higher doses of whitener while safeguarding your teeth and gums, rendering it the most efficient.
An in-office treatment is more expensive than any other approach, and it’s noticeably less accessible, but the results are unquestionable. The specialized application procedure guarantees uniform effects across the teeth instead of spotty or inconsistent whitening from strips or kits. While the details may differ, the process follows a similar pattern, with manageable or painless steps for most cases.
Some dentists also offer clients the option of using halogen light with teeth lighting. The halogen light accelerates the whitening solution, resulting in quicker and better effects. Those who choose not to use this approach will need several treatments to obtain the degree of whiteness they want.
At-Home Teeth Whitening Kits
Teeth whitening choices that are safe and effective are not exclusive to what one gets at a dental clinic. Dentists might offer different professional whitening kits for those who prefer to undergo their treatments at home. In addition, many individuals turn to specialized professional at-home whitening kits as a substitute for the more expensive in-office process.
Customized trays loaded with bleaching chemicals that comfortably fit over your teeth have been the most typical method. The trays are available in several days and have a precise fit to your teeth, ensuring the best results. The dentist will advise patients on how much gel to apply during each use to prevent gum damage.
Professional at-home whitening kits with a higher dosage of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide are available from a dentist. They generally cost more than over-the-counter bleaching products, yet they are less costly than the typical in-office operation. As a result, these products are ideal for people who seek expert guidance but don’t require immediate results.
Over-the-Counter Teeth Whitening Kits
At-home whitening kits come in various forms, including trays, strips, creams, and bleaches containing peroxide. DIY whitening is handy since you can accomplish it according to your specific timetable and conditions, but it only works up to a degree. It also works best on solid and unrestored molars and people with yellowish shades in their teeth.
Most are universal solutions that generally help whiten teeth gradually over weeks or even months. Although these products are cheaper, they can’t improve the teeth’ natural color or remove deep stains in the enamel. Patients will notice observable changes in the brilliance of their smile for weeks, but the outcomes are not as spectacular.
Most over-the-counter solutions produce results ranging from several shades to whiter. In addition, over-the-counter teeth whitening products come in a wide array of options, including the following:
Whitening Strips
Teeth whitening strips include peroxide or bleach, which removes the pigment from the teeth and restores their natural whiteness. Most whitening strips are polyethylene, a thin and flexible plastic treated with varying peroxide concentrations. They provide immediate results that can be seen in as little as a few days and persist for several months.
Most kits include two sets of strips for the upper and lower teeth and directions for how long to keep them on the teeth. A person usually applies the strips for around thirty minutes before sleeping and observes an improvement in the teeth’ whiteness within a week. But, unfortunately, they won’t brighten restorations or remove stains produced by antibiotics or fluoride damage.
Over-the-Counter Bleaching Trays
Most OTC trays come in kits with a gel-based whitening solution and bleaching agents with peroxide. They have a lower dose of peroxide than those from an in-office treatment because they are primarily for at-home application. However, it also implies that they aren’t as effective as in-office trays and that seeing improvements can take several months.
The manufacturer’s specifications determine how often one should wear the trays and how long they should stay on the teeth. Clients also report varying efficiency depending on the brand, with some mentioning significant effects and others claiming none. However, some of the whitening gels in these kits are unreliable and may have high peroxide levels.
Paint-on Products
Paint-on gels or coatings include hydrogen or carbamide peroxide in a mixture spread over the tooth’s surface by a brush. They stick to the teeth’ enamel, form a layer that blankets them, and disintegrate in the mouth. However, because of the strength of dental enamel, paint-on gels don’t permeate it, so the result doesn’t stay too long.
The whitener is simple to apply to the front surface of the teeth and is ready to use after around thirty minutes. It also doesn’t necessitate whitening trays or plastic strips to complete the whole procedure. There’s also no proof that tooth painting harms dental structures as long as it’s free of hazardous components.
Whitening Toothpaste and Rinse
Whitening toothpaste involves moderate abrasives to help remove stains from the teeth’ external surface while brushing them. Specific whitening toothbrushes with special compressed fibers are also compatible with teeth cleaning without friction. On the other hand, a whitening mouthwash may contain hydrogen peroxide to lighten teeth while also refreshing the breath effectively.
Whitening toothpaste only eliminates superficial stains and doesn’t include bleaching; therefore, it only lightly brightens the color of the teeth. A mouthwash after a toothbrush penetrates any gaps overlooked at first, enabling the fluoride to wash into the enamel. However, unlike the ingredients used in clinical whitening processes, these remedies do not brighten the tooth’s natural color tone.
These over-the-counter whitening treatments are ideal for individuals with minimal discoloration who want to keep their smiles bright. Additionally, they may be appropriate for pregnant women and anyone advised to avoid using more aggressive tooth-whitening solutions. However, applying whitening solutions containing peroxide with caution is necessary because they might cause mouth discomfort and allergy.
Know the Appropriate Teeth Whitening Option
Various methods and solutions are available to whiten stained teeth, and knowing which are safe to use is crucial. You may have teeth whitened by a dentist or over-the-counter items, though many people choose the former because of its effectiveness. Some prefer at-home treatment for convenience and pricing, while others require quick outcomes and can pay for professional treatment.
Unfortunately, whitening items such as toothpaste and gels typically last a limited time compared to professional work. Additionally, because of the number of active ingredients, at-home teeth whitening kits are less effective than professional procedures. Most professionals and experts also believe these whitening options are considerably less safe than what dentists can provide.
With various teeth whitening methods available, deciding which approach is best for you might be challenging. The easiest way to start any teeth whitening routine is to visit your dentist and discuss the various options. Ultimately, you can choose which option to pursue by carefully assessing the benefits and drawbacks and your dentist’s advice.