Tooth Whitening - The Do’s and Dont's
Stained yellow teeth, which are so easily remedied, shouldn't get in the way of you being successful. Stained yellow teeth put you at a disadvantage in certain social situations. Considering there is much competition in both business and social situations, it is certainly useful to look as presentable as possible to be successful. The benefits of tooth whitening are many - extending to your business, social and personal life.
Determine what your tradeoffs might be! When opting for 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 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 many 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 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. A few affected individuals can’t stand to talk because the airflow hurts their teeth. When and 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 administered 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 meet your distinct set of dental restorations. Most notably, 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 miniscule pain to your gums and oral tissue. Compare the full, dentist supervised procedure to an over the counter tooth whitening product, where you are totally on your own.
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 finest 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 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 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 subsequent to the teeth whitening treatment, enhance the result by using an oxygenating oral rinse. Don't use a mouthwash containing alcohol, as this can in reality reduce the bleaching effect.
- Follow this teeth whitening system for several days consecutively.
Tooth Whitening Tradeoffs
- Do you desire as minimal pain and/or side effects as possible? Then pick a dentist-supervised, tailored fitted tray whitening technique.
- Do you want to spend as little as possible? Then choose an over the counter kit, but be prepared 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 newest laser treatment obtainable at a dentist’s office.
Who should not Start Tooth Whitening
Tooth whitening can achieve some remarkable results and could well be worth the cost and time involved. Yet, tooth whitening is not for everyone. The list below suggests those who shouldn't 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.
- Individuals with exposed roots, cavities, gum disease, worn enamel
- Individuals 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 slightly whiter than the whites of your eyes. Any further expectation of the outcome of tooth whitening is just outside the bounds of current techniques.
Remember, to make 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!
- Try to avoid soft drinks and excessive coffee consumption
- Use a top notch, effective mouth rinse
If you have a further interest in tooth whitening, you may also want to review natural teeth whiteners or also teeth whitening product .
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