Tooth Whitening - The Do’s and Dont's
Stained yellow teeth, that are so simply remedied, should not get in the way of you being successful. The advantages of tooth whitening are numerous - extending to your business, social and personal life. Stained yellow teeth put you at a disadvantage in some social circumstances. Given there is much competition in both business and social circumstances, it is surely useful to appear as presentable as achievable to be successful.
Who should not Start Tooth Whitening
Tooth whitening could achieve some remarkable results and should well be worth the cost and time involved. But then, tooth whitening is not for everybody. The list below indicates those that shouldn't engage in this technique:
- Children under the age of 16
- Pregnant/lactating women
- Darkly stained teeth (grayish or purple-stained teeth)
- Persons with fillings or dental restorations.
- Those with exposed roots, cavities, gum disease, worn enamel
- Those having allergies and sensitive teeth
- People with unrealistic expectations
- Teeth with dark gray stains or crowns
In regards to 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 just outside the bounds of current techniques.
Some Side Effects
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 often is caused by a poorly fitted mouthpiece tray and not the tooth bleaching chemical. To remedy the mouth tissue irritation, different treatment options could be followed. These include wearing the tray for a shorter time span, halting the process for two-three days, or use of a high fluoride gel to augment the tray, thus assisting in re-mineralizing the teeth. With some at-home kits, you run the risk of burning your gums, or making them sore. In the case of tooth whitening, as in most areas, you get what you pay for.
The second side effect observed is tooth sensitivity. Some affected people can’t stand to speak due to the fact that the airflow hurts their teeth. If you start undergoing tooth sensitivity, see your dentist right away. 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)
With the dentist administered tooth whitening, your oral cavity and gums are protected from bleaching effects. The dentist can determine the optimal type of stain to match your distinct set of dental restorations. Most notably, your dentist will make a customized 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. Compare the full, dentist supervised process to an over the counter tooth whitening product, where you are totally on your own.
Tooth Whitening Tradeoffs
- Do you desire as minimal pain and/or side effects as possible? Then choose a dentist-supervised, personalized fitted tray whitening technique.
- Do you wish to spend as little as possible? Then pick an over the counter kit, but be prepared to carry out everything yourself.
- Do you want as little gum irritation as possible? Then opt for a low concentration of carbamide peroxide in the whitening gel.
- Do you require or want tooth whitening as quick as possible? Then opt for the latest laser treatment accessible at a dentist’s office.
Determine what your tradeoffs might be! When deciding on a whitener you should look for the ADA Seal for safety and effectiveness. Tooth whiteners, gels or strips contain carbamide or hydrogen peroxide as the active bleaching ingredients.
Some Tricks of the Trade
If you choose to proceed with the Tooth Whitening process, also make sure you do the following Therabreath Recommendations to come up with the top results:
- Apply some aloe vera juice to your gums. Then, just before whitening, for two minutes brush your teeth with oxygenating toothpaste combined with some good natural polishing agents.
- The best 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 push the plastic down or up against your teeth and gums. When the plastic cools you have a nice 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.
- Right away following the teeth whitening treatment, augment the result by using an oxygenating oral rinse. Don't use a mouthwash containing alcohol, as this can in reality lower the bleaching effect.
- Follow this teeth whitening system for several days consecutively.
Remember, to make those newly whitened teeth to last longer post-whitening, make sure you do the following:
- Brush your teeth minimally twice a day!
- Floss on a daily basis
- Quit smoking!
- Make an attempt to avoid soft drinks and excessive coffee consumption
- Use a good, effective mouth rinse
If you have a further interest in tooth whitening, you may also want to review tooth whitening kit or in addition teeth whitening products .
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