Tooth Whitening - The Do’s and Dont's
Stained yellow teeth, that are so easily remedied, shouldn't get in the way of you being successful. The benefits of tooth whitening are numerous - extending to your business, social and personal life. Stained yellow teeth put you at a disadvantage in some social situations. Considering there is much competition in both business and social situations, it is surely useful to look as presentable as possible to be successful.
Some Side Effects
With a few at-home kits, you run the risk of burning your gums, or making them sore. In the situation of tooth whitening, as in many areas, you get what you pay for. Two side effects frequently seen are irritation of the soft mouth tissues (the gums) and an increase in tooth sensitivity. Irritation of the mouth tissues frequently is caused by a poorly fitted mouthpiece tray and not the tooth bleaching chemical. To remedy the mouth tissue irritation, various treatment options could be followed. These include wearing the tray for a shorter time span, suspending the process for two-three days, or use of a high fluoride gel to add to the tray, thus assisting in re-mineralizing the teeth.
The second side effect observed is tooth sensitivity. Some affected individuals can’t stand to speak due to the fact that the airflow hurts their teeth. When and if you start experiencing tooth sensitivity, see your dentist immediately. Also, you can brush with toothpaste specially formulated for sensitive teeth.
Your Treatment Choices
You have a choice of treatment options of differing cost and effectiveness:
- Over the counter gels ($15) and whitening strips ($10 - $55 for a 14-day treatment)
- Tray-based tooth whitening systems ($20 - $150)
- Dentist supervised home bleaching systems ($300 - $600)
Compare the full, dentist supervised procedure to an over the counter tooth whitening product, where you are completely on your own. With the dentist supervised tooth whitening, your oral cavity and gums are guarded from bleaching effects. The dentist can determine the optimal type of stain to meet your unique set of dental restorations. Most importantly, your dentist will be able to make an individualized mouthpiece tray, exactly fitted to your mouth. This results in maximal exposure of your teeth to the whitening agent and minimal pain to your gums and oral tissue.
Tooth Whitening Tradeoffs
- Do you want as little pain and/or side effects as possible? Then choose a dentist-supervised, personalized fitted tray whitening method.
- Do you want to spend as little as possible? Then pick an over the counter kit, but be ready to do everything yourself.
- Do you like as little gum irritation as possible? Then opt for a low concentration of carbamide peroxide in the whitening gel.
- Do you need or want tooth whitening as quick as possible? Then opt for the the latest laser treatment obtainable at a dentist’s office.
Who should not Start Tooth Whitening
Tooth whitening might achieve some remarkable results and may well be worth the cost and time involved. Yet, tooth whitening is not for everybody. The list below indicates those who should not engage in this technique:
- Children under the age of 16
- Pregnant/lactating women
- Darkly stained teeth (grayish or purple-stained teeth)
- Individuals with fillings or dental restorations.
- Those with exposed roots, cavities, gum disease, worn enamel
- Individuals having allergies and sensitive teeth
- Individuals with unrealistic expectations
- Teeth with dark gray stains or crowns
Regarding unrealistic expectations, understand that the whitening of your teeth will lead to a color somewhat whiter than the whites of your eyes. Any further expectation of the outcome of tooth whitening is simply outside the bounds of current techniques.
Some Tricks of the Trade
If you decide to proceed with the Tooth Whitening process, also make sure you do the following Therabreath Recommendations to obtain the most ideal results:
- Apply some aloe vera juice to your gums. Then, just before whitening, for two minutes brush your teeth with oxygenating toothpaste along with some good natural polishing agents.
- The highest quality home tooth whitening systems use a moldable tray system containing a mouthpiece you can personally fit to your mouth. You mold them by soaking them for a few seconds in warm water, then you press the plastic down or up against your teeth and gums. When the plastic cools you have a fine fitting, soft plastic mouthpiece that is just right for your particular teeth and face.
- Use a strong teeth whitening gel to ensure that the time your teeth are in contact with the whitening gel is well spent. Use a 21% carbamide peroxide concentrated teeth whitening gel, not containing any glycerin, that will allow a reduction in the sensitivity of your teeth and gums.
- Immediately following the teeth whitening treatment, improve the result by using an oxygenating oral rinse. Do not use a mouthwash containing alcohol, as this can in fact lessen the bleaching effect.
- Follow this teeth whitening system for several days consecutively.
Determine what your tradeoffs might be! When opting for a whitener you ought to look for the ADA Seal for safety and effectiveness. Tooth whiteners, gels or strips contain carbamide or hydrogen peroxide as the active bleaching ingredients.
Remember, to cause those newly whitened teeth to go on longer post-whitening, make sure you do the following:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day!
- Floss on a daily basis
- Quit smoking!
- Make every effort to stay away from soft drinks and high coffee consumption
- Use a top notch, effective mouth rinse
If you have a further interest in tooth whitening, you may also want to review teeth whitening kits or also tooth whitening gel .
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