Tooth Whitening - The Do’s and Dont's
Stained yellow teeth put you at a disadvantage in a few social situations. Considering there is much competition in both business and social circumstances, it is surely useful to appear as presentable as possible to be successful. The benefits of tooth whitening are numerous - extending to your business, social and personal life. Stained yellow teeth, which are so easily remedied, should not get in the way of you being successful.
Tooth Whitening Tradeoffs
- Do you want as minimal pain and/or side effects as possible? Then choose a dentist-supervised, personalized fitted tray whitening technique.
- Do you seek to spend as little as possible? Then pick an over the counter kit, but be prepared to do 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 want or want tooth whitening as quick as possible? Then opt for the the latest laser treatment accessible at a dentist’s office.
Who should not Start Tooth Whitening
Tooth whitening could achieve some remarkable results and could well be worth the cost and time involved. Yet, tooth whitening is not for everybody. 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)
- Individuals with fillings or dental restorations.
- Individuals 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, recognize that the whitening of your teeth will lead to a color somewhat whiter than the whites of your eyes. Any additional expectation of the outcome of tooth whitening is just outside the bounds of current techniques.
Determine what your tradeoffs are! When selecting 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.
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 obtain the best 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 press 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.
- Right away after 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 decrease the bleaching effect.
- Follow this teeth whitening system for several days consecutively.
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, various treatment options could be followed. These include wearing the tray for a shorter time span, putting off 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 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 most areas, you get what you pay for.
The second side effect seen is tooth sensitivity. A few affected people can’t stand to speak due to the fact that 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 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)
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 match your distinct set of dental restorations. Most significantly, 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.
Remember, to make those newly whitened teeth to persist longer post-whitening, make sure you do the following:
- Brush your teeth minimally twice a day!
- Floss on a daily basis
- Quit smoking!
- Make every effort to stay away from 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 effects of teeth whitening or also natural tooth whitening .
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