Tooth Whitening - The Do’s and Dont's
Stained yellow teeth put you at a disadvantage in some social circumstances. Considering there is a good amount of competition in both business and social situations, it is with out a doubt useful to appear as presentable as possible to be successful. Stained yellow teeth, that are so simply remedied, shouldn't get in the way of you being successful. The bonuses of tooth whitening are many - extending to your business, social and personal life.
Determine what your tradeoffs are! 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 decide to proceed with the Tooth Whitening process, also make certain you do the following Therabreath Recommendations to obtain the finest 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 better 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 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 lower the bleaching effect.
- Follow this teeth whitening system for several days consecutively.
Some Side Effects
With some 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. Two side effects often 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 lessen the mouth tissue irritation, different treatment options could be followed. These include wearing the tray for a shorter time period, suspending the procedure 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 seen is tooth sensitivity. A few affected individuals can’t stand to talk due to the fact that the airflow hurts their teeth. If you start experiencing tooth sensitivity, see your dentist right away. Also, you can brush with toothpaste specially formulated for sensitive teeth.
Your Treatment Options
You have a selection of treatment options of varying 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 totally 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 distinct set of dental restorations. Most notably, your dentist will make an individualized mouthpiece tray, precisely fitted to your mouth. This results in maximal exposure of your teeth to the whitening agent and little pain to your gums and oral tissue.
Who should not Start Tooth Whitening
Tooth whitening might achieve some remarkable results and could well be worth the cost and time involved. Yet, tooth whitening is not for everyone. The list below indicates those that should not engage in this technique:
- Children under the age of 16
- Pregnant/lactating women
- Darkly stained teeth (grayish or purple-stained teeth)
- Those with fillings or dental restorations.
- Those with exposed roots, cavities, gum disease, worn enamel
- Those having allergies and sensitive teeth
- Individuals 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 slightly whiter than the whites of your eyes. Any additional expectation of the outcome of tooth whitening is simply outside the bounds of present techniques.
Tooth Whitening Tradeoffs
- Do you desire as little pain and/or side effects as possible? Then choose a dentist-supervised, personalized fitted tray whitening technique.
- Do you want to spend as little as possible? Then choose an over the counter kit, but be ready to achieve 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 desire or want tooth whitening as quick as possible? Then opt for the new laser treatment accessible at a dentist’s office.
Recall, to make 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!
- Make every effort to avoid soft drinks and excessive coffee consumption
- Use a decent, effective mouth rinse
If you have a further interest in tooth whitening, you may also want to review teeth whitening with light or in addition white brite .
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