Tooth Whitening - The Do’s and Dont's
Stained yellow teeth put you at a disadvantage in selected social situations. Considering there is much competition in both business and social situations, it is undoubtedly useful to look as presentable as achievable to be successful. Stained yellow teeth, that are so easily remedied, should not get in the way of you being successful. The benefits of tooth whitening are numerous - extending to your business, social and personal life.
Tooth Whitening Tradeoffs
- Do you like as little pain and/or side effects as possible? Then choose a dentist-supervised, tailored fitted tray whitening technique.
- Do you wish to spend as little as possible? Then select an over the counter kit, but be ready to achieve everything yourself.
- Do you want as little gum irritation as possible? Then opt for a minimal 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.
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 get the most ideal results:
- Apply some aloe vera juice to your gums. At that time, 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 superb 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 enable a reduction in the sensitivity of your teeth and gums.
- Immediately after the teeth whitening treatment, enhance the result by using an oxygenating oral rinse. Do not use a mouthwash containing alcohol, as this can actually decrease the bleaching effect.
- Follow this teeth whitening system for several days consecutively.
Specific Side Effects
Two side effects repeatedly 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, various treatment options could be followed. These include wearing the tray for a shorter time span, halting the procedure for two-three days, or use of a high fluoride gel to augment the tray, thus assisting in re-mineralizing the teeth. With certain at-home kits, you run the possibility of burning your gums, or making them sore. In the situation 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 talk due to the fact that the airflow hurts their teeth. If you start having tooth sensitivity, see your dentist immediately. Also, you can brush with toothpaste specially formulated for sensitive teeth.
Your Treatment Options
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 process 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 protected from bleaching effects. The dentist can determine the optimal type of stain to match your distinct set of dental restorations. Most importantly, your dentist is able to make a customized mouthpiece tray, precisely 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.
Who should not Start Tooth Whitening
Tooth whitening could achieve some remarkable results and should well be worth the cost and time involved. However, tooth whitening is not for all of us. The list below suggests 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)
- Persons with fillings or dental restorations.
- Persons 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
Regarding unrealistic expectations, recognize 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.
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.
Remember, to cause those newly whitened teeth to last longer post-whitening, make sure you carry out the following:
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day!
- Floss on a daily basis
- Quit smoking!
- Try to avoid 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 process or additionally teeth whitening procedures .
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