Teeth Whitening

by maria | Last Updated: December 24, 2020

All You Need to Know About Teeth Whitening

Are you losing the natural whiteness of your teeth? Despite the best oral care practices, the natural whiteness of your teeth might fade with time due to one reason or the other. It is tough to change food habits, but you can regain the lost shine of your teeth and smile confidently, thanks to the advancement made in cosmetic dentistry procedures. If you are concerned about the risk involved in teeth whitening, which could be surface roughening, sensitivity, discoloration, or gingival irritation, you need to rest assured as technology is now highly advanced to ensure safe whitening and better whitening persistence.     

Understanding Teeth Whitening 

Whether the cause of teeth discoloration is intrinsic or extrinsic staining, you can get rid of ugly looking stains in just a few teeth whitening sessions. The perception of the color of teeth could vary depending on skin color and make-up and the dentist could help you lighten shade as per your preference. Depending on our discoloration and preference, your dentist might opt for either surface whiteners or bleaches to give you bright-white teeth.   

Whom to Consult for Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening procedure looks simple, but it requires meticulous handling as any mistake could lead to injury and permanent damage. So, if you want to get perfect white teeth then you should consult a professional dentist. Some beauty salons offer teeth whitening, but you should avoid them as the wrong use of bleach could damage teeth surface and gums. If you want to look beyond the dentist, you can consult a registered dental therapist and hygienist for teeth whitening.  

What is The Procedure for Teeth Whitening?

The dentist will first examine your teeth and accordingly suggest suitable teeth whitening treatment. The most common procedure is bleaching. It all begins with cleaning and drying followed by fixing a protective rubber shield or gel. Once done, your dentist will apply a whitening product to your teeth using a custom-designed mouthguard. The bleaching agent used normally is either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.

Now, the laser whitening procedure is getting popular. In this procedure, your dentist will paint bleach products on your teeth first and then use laser light to activate the whitening. You can get electric white teeth in just an hour.

Risk Involved in Home Teeth Whitening 

Home teeth whitening kit comes with a mouthguard and very mild bleaching gel, which could not be very effective. If you are using a home kit, your mouthguard might not fit properly and gel could leak and damage gums. Another major risk with a home kit could be excessive sensitivity and color mismatch.  

How Long Does Teeth Whitening Procedure Take?

The full teeth whitening treatment takes 3 to 4 weeks. It all starts with an examination followed by taking an impression for a mouthguard. Once the treatment begins, you have to apply the whitening product over two to four weeks, for 30 minutes at a time. You can get results in a week, but you have to accept the fact that whitening treatment is not permanent and it lasts for up to 3 years if you could control your drinking and smoking habits. If you are wearing dentures, fillings, or veneers, you should better consult your dentists before starting teeth whitening treatment.

Final Words

You know what role sparkling white teeth play in public life, so if you are witnessing signs of discoloration you should consult a registered dentist immediately and discuss teeth whitening available treatment. You should ask about whitening results and possible side effects, and of course the cost.

Maria Giovanisci is an enterprising dentist from London. Maria graduated from the University of Murcia and began her professional career in her own dental clinic before, she decided to embark on a joint project with her two colleagues. Aside from contributing on this blog, she also works in the public health sector at the new Torrevieja Hospital.

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