Info on natural teeth whitening

Why a Tooth Whitening System?

Why do teeth become yellowed? This is because individuals consume caffeine-containing drinks, smoke, become exposed to antibiotics, and just plain get older. Teeth whitening is an effective way to reverse this process, and is so successful that 95% of persons experiencing the procedure do verify some improvement. Tooth whitening systems offer a wide spectrum of alternatives, ranging from low-priced whitening strips on the low end to costly but for the most part effective expert dental whitening services. There is a great deal of tooth whitening systems to be had today.

Three Primary Approaches to Tooth Whitening

In spite of the confusing array of dentist and over the counter (OTC) products, there are essentially 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

The secret to the highest quality outcomes in tooth whitening is the whitening agent delivery technique. In all the tooth whitening methods, the tooth bleaching gel is kept in place by a system of delivery. This is absolutely critical to keep the gel in contact with the surface of the tooth. There is nothing intrinsically superb or bad regarding any of these three basic techniques - each method could yield nice outcomes. You just can’t put a bleaching agent on your teeth without a viable delivery system and expect it to work.

Whitening Strip Method

Whitening strips are able to accomplish a nice job of whitening the exterior tooth surfaces, but do a poor job of bleaching the teeth divisions and cracks. A dark division between whitened teeth may look similar to a bad cavity. If you don't utilize a tray-based tooth whitening system, you run the chance of possessing irregular or spotty results. The next simplest tooth whitening technique is the whitening strip technique. You place tooth bleaching tape on your front teeth. This tape is flexible, and contains the gel that bleaches the teeth. This is the most comfortable, least costly, and easiest to employ tooth whitening technique. This explains the popularity of this technique. But then, frequently the possible results aren't as superb as those outcomes seen with the tray-based methods or in-office laser tooth whitening systems.

OTC tooth whitening products could in principle provide the identical tooth whitening effect as a visit to a dentist office, but with a decreased concentration of the peroxide (5% - 10%), and over a longer period of time. This is partially true, but omits the reality that dentists utilize a laser tooth whitening system as well as bleach, something unavailable with OTC products.

The ADA Seal of Acceptance

Only a small amount of tray-based dentist-dispensed products have the ADA Seal. In all the at-home tooth whiteners which have received the ADA Seal, the active ingredient is a 10% carbamide peroxide solution. There are varying degrees of worth to all these whitening systems. This is an area that the U.S. FDA does not get 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 adverse to the soft tissues of the mouth or the teeth, and that a whitener can effectively whiten teeth. What we ought to know regarding the ADA seal of acceptance is that no OTC product has yet earned this coveted designation.

Tooth Whitening Toothpaste

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

Take Home Tray Whitening

Due to the fact that the bleaching tray is so custom fitted, this permits the bleaching gel to remain in contact with the teeth surface. Actually, this is the most essential 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 presently available. With 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. Then, 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 consequently 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 totally on your own. You must closely follow all the instructions. This technique has been successful, but you must be cautious. This approach 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 causes chemical reactions that trigger the tooth whitening. Most people do a Zoom® tooth whitening once every six months. Compared to OTC products, dentists usually 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 exactly defined light frequency combined with a proprietary bleaching chemical produces especially amplified whitening effects.

A comparison of peroxide concentrations in tooth whitening

The following table will provide the reader a thorough understanding of the differing strengths of peroxides used in the different 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 ensuing table, we attempt to summarize the relative effectiveness, prices, and benefits of the various 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

Conclusion

Whatever tooth whitening system you prefer, always seek the advice of your dentist and follow closely all instructions. Take a look at your condition. If you are looking for a small amount of whitening of your teeth, then think about an OTC tooth whitening system. If you really want a great bright white smile, then your sole option is a cosmetic dentist.

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