Info on teeth whitening safe

Why a Tooth Whitening System?

There is a great deal of tooth whitening systems obtainable currently. Why do teeth darken? This is due to the fact that individuals consume caffeine-containing drinks, smoke, become exposed to antibiotics, and just plain age. Teeth whitening is an effective way to reverse this process, and is so successful that 95% of those experiencing the approach do show some improvement. Tooth whitening systems offer a wide spectrum of alternatives, ranging from low cost whitening strips on the low end to expensive but for the most part effective skilled dental whitening services.

The ADA Seal of Acceptance

Only certain tray-based dentist-dispensed products have the ADA Seal. In all the at-home tooth whiteners which have acquired the ADA Seal, the active ingredient is a 10% carbamide peroxide solution. There are varying degrees of quality to all these whitening systems. This is an area that the U.S. FDA doesn't become involved. At any rate, the American Dental Association (ADA) does set guidelines for tooth whitening products. The ADA guideline for a whitener requires that it not be bad to the soft tissues of the mouth or the teeth, and that a whitener can effectively whiten teeth. What one should know about the ADA seal of acceptance is that no OTC product has yet attained this coveted designation.

Tooth Whitening Toothpaste

The most simple tooth whitening approach is tooth whitening toothpaste (which is a mix of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda). If you just need some uncomplicated maintenance of prior tooth whitening, then this is the direction to go. But, if the situation is more deep rooted, then additional tooth whitening systems ought to be looked into.

Take Home Tray Whitening

As the bleaching tray is so custom fitted, this allows the bleaching gel to remain in contact with the teeth surface. Truly, this is the most important aspect of the bleaching process and is the rationale why tray based bleaching systems have been so successful. This is probably the most cost effective method of tooth whitening currently on hand. Through a take home tooth whitening tray technique, which the patient can perform at home, the dentist makes an impression for a model of the patient’s teeth. Subsequently, a perfect fitting bleach tray is fitted from this impression. Finally, a bleaching gel is prescribed by the dentist. At home, the bleaching gel is placed in the bleaching tray by the patient and the tray is then worn for one to two hours at home at a convenient time by the tooth whitening patient.

An OTC kit is similar to the take home whitening tray fitted at the dentist’s office, but in this case, you are completely on your own. You must thoroughly follow all the instructions. This method has been successful, but you must be cautious. This technique is not recommended by the ADA.

Dentist-supervised laser tooth whitening

With a procedure such as Zoom® tooth whitening, a special bright laser light is shone on the teeth whitening gel for an hour. Laser light energy creates energy which leads to chemical reactions that lead to the tooth whitening. A large number of people do a Zoom® tooth whitening once every six months. Compared to OTC products, dentists mostly use a higher concentration of bleaching compound with a laser tooth whitening system like Britesmile® or Zoom® tooth whitening. With a laser whitening technique, the precisely defined light frequency combined with a proprietary bleaching chemical produces remarkably amplified whitening effects.

A comparison of peroxide concentrations in tooth whitening

The following table will provide the reader a broad understanding of the varying strengths of peroxides used in the diverse whitening systems.

Application	Agent	Professional/OTC	Concentration
In Office "power bleaching"	hydrogen peroxide carbamide peroxide	dentist dentist	15%-38% 35%
Night-time tray bleaching	carbamide peroxide hydrogen peroxide	dentist dentist	10%-22% 6-9.5%
whitening strips	hydrogen peroxide hydrogen peroxide	OTC dentist	5.3%-10% 6.5%-14%
paint on gels	carbamide peroxide hydrogen peroxide	OTC OTC	18% 19%

A comparison of all the tooth whitening systems

In the following table, we make an effort to summarize the relative effectiveness, prices, and advantages of the diverse tooth whitening systems.

Method	Effectiveness	Length of results	Treatment Duration	Side Effects	Tooth Type	Cost
Whitening strips	Whitens teeth slightly, might leave "lines"	1 year	7-14 days	Minimally sensitive teeth/gums	Slightly yellow teeth	$15
Brush on whitening gels	Somewhat better than regular toothpaste	Several weeks	7-14 days	Bad breath	Slightly yellow teeth	$3-$5
OTC gels	Improves with higher peroxide levels	1 year	1-3 weeks	Sensitive teeth/gums	Moderately yellow to dark teeth	$10
Bleaching done in dentist's office	Great for yellow teeth	3 yrs	1-2 mos.	Sensitive teeth/gums	Extremely dark teeth, which require professional evaluation	$300-$1000
Dentist supervised gel application	Great for yellow teeth	3 years	3-6 wks	Sensitive teeth/gums	Dark teeth, which needs a dentist-supervised evaluation	$300-$500
Crowns	Very effective for one tooth	10-15 years	1 month	feeling of tightness	Single tooth is decayed or broken	$600-$3000
Veneers	Very effective for just one tooth	10-15 years	3-4 weeks	feeling of tightness	Single tooth needs straightening	$500-$1200
Bonding	Very effective for just one tooth	5-10 years	1-2 weeks	Rare allergies	Single tooth needs minor reshaping	$300-$700

Whitening Strip Method

Whitening strips might do a fine job of whitening the exterior tooth surfaces, but achieve a poor job of bleaching the teeth divisions and cracks. A dark division between whitened teeth may appear like a bad cavity. If you do not employ a tray-based tooth whitening system, you run the possibility of experiencing irregular or spotty possible results. The next simplest tooth whitening system is the whitening strip approach. You place tooth bleaching tape on your front teeth. This tape is flexible, and contains the gel which bleaches the teeth. This is the most comfortable, least costly, and easiest to employ tooth whitening technique. This explains the popularity of this technique. Yet, frequently the possible results are not as excellent as those results seen with the tray-based methods or in-office laser tooth whitening systems.

OTC tooth whitening products should in principle provide the identical tooth whitening effect as a visit to a dentist office, however with a lessened concentration of the peroxide (5% - 10%), and over a longer period of time. This is partially true, but omits the fact that dentists use a laser tooth whitening system as well as bleach, something not available with OTC products.

Three Primary Approaches to Tooth Whitening

In the face of the bewildering array of dentist and over the counter (OTC) products, there are practically just three (3) approaches to whitening one’s teeth:

• Dental in-office bleaching
• Self-applied night-time bleaching using a custom-fitted tray or a polyethylene strip
• Individual directed whitening using OTC bleaching products

You just can’t put a bleaching agent on your teeth without a fine delivery method and presume it to work. The key to the best outcomes in tooth whitening is the whitening agent delivery procedure. In all the tooth whitening methods, the tooth bleaching gel is kept in place by a system of delivery. This is absolutely crucial to keep the gel in contact with the surface of the tooth. There is not anything intrinsically superb or unfavorable regarding any of these three basic techniques - each system should yield nice outcomes.

Conclusion

Whatever tooth whitening system you prefer, always seek the advice of your dentist and follow carefully all instructions. Take a look at your situation. If you are looking for a little whitening of your teeth, then consider an OTC tooth whitening system. If you particularly want a magnificent bright white smile, then your only option is a cosmetic dentist.

If you have a further interest in tooth whitening methods, you may also want to look into best teeth whiteners or in addition in office tooth whitening.